With hybrid workplaces rapidly becoming the norm the need for time tracking to monitor employees is becoming a key element for HR. But how can we monitor employees without being too intrusive and distrustful?

The answer is self-reported time tracking by employees.

While this is a good solution, what tools you’ll use for time tracking are the key to large-scale adoption in the organization. Having unique software for this will only deepen the software fatigue all employees are feeling. One software for marking your attendance, another for time tracking, and many others for your core work.

Just like Zoom fatigue, app fatigue is also a sad reality for most employees.

How about a time tracking solution on your current collaboration software? With Slack and MS Teams having 115 million and 14 million daily active users in 2021 respectively, it makes sense to use apps on these.

In this article, we’ll be focusing on how time tracking with Microsoft Teams works, tools that can help, and helpful visual assets.

What is Time Tracking?

Time tracking is the process of recording the time spent by employees at work, approving timesheets, and providing this data for payroll. This data can be segmented to include time spent by employees on different projects and clients for client-wise billing.

The process of time tracking includes:

  • Punching in and out: Tracking the time spent on projects, clients, or just at work
    • Self-reported by the employee
    • Auto-tracked through software
  • Approvals: The punches of individual employees are analyzed and approved by their manager periodically for payroll
  • Timesheet Reports: Approved timesheets are sent for payroll

What is Microsoft Teams Time Tracking?

Microsoft Teams has already made strides in analyzing employee productivity with Microsoft Viva. It makes sense that time tracking with Microsoft Teams is the next logical step.

So what does this entail?

Microsoft Teams time trackers are applications that can be added from the Apps section to integrate into your workspace. With these you can:

  • Create punches
  • Add breaks
  • Segment time spent project wise
  • Approve timesheets
  • Pull up timesheet reports
  • Monitor employee productivity

Time Tracking in Microsoft Teams

We don’t like to toot our own horn, but with AttendanceBot, Microsoft Teams’ time tracking is simple, non-intrusive, and intuitive for employees. While also being information-rich and robust for employers.

So how can you monitor employees on MS Teams with AttendanceBot? Let’s find out.

How to Add AttendanceBot to Your Workspace?

You can add AttendanceBot to your workspace by searching for it in the Apps section of MS Teams. It is listed under the Productivity and Human Resource section.

How to Track Time in MS Teams?

  • When you are starting work, simply type and send “in” to AttendanceBot. It will clock you in for the day.
  • When you want to click out, simply type and send “out”.

How to Track Breaks on MS Teams?

  • To apply for a break in AttendanceBot, just type and send “break for x mins” or “brb in x mins”.
  • You can then clock back in after that time by sending “in” once more.

In case your administrator has set up any scheduled breaks like a 30-minute lunch break under “lunch” or a 10-minute snack under “snacks”, you can just send those phrases without the duration mentioned.

The lunch duration can be set from your Settings Panel. You can refer to this article for the process of setting up lunch hours.

How to Track Time on MS Teams by Project?

  • When you are starting with your work, simply clock in by typing the command “in” into the AttendanceBot. If you have been assigned projects, AttendanceBot will give you a drop-down to select one.

 

  • Hit “OK” to confirm the punch and you will notice that the prompt by AttendanceBot will update

 

  • If you wish to switch to another project, simply type in the command “Out” to clock out from the current project.
  • Rinse and repeat to choose another project.

How to View Real-Time Punch Statuses of the Team?

 

To view the list of people currently punched in or out, simply type ‘punch card’. It is a real-time view of your team’s punch status.

Alternatively, managers can head to the AttendanceBot Dashboard and enter the Punch Board to see the status of their employees.

How Do I Send Punch Reminders to Employees?

Often, employees can forget to punch in and out during the day. Sending timesheet reminders can be a task.

With AttendanceBot, you can specify times for punch in and out reminders. The reminders will go out to workspace members in their local time.

Sometimes, reminders can also be ineffective. In that case, you can opt to auto-punch out employees to prevent overtime issues further down the line.

Microsoft Teams Time Tracking, Simplified.

We hope this guide was helpful in navigating the confusing world of Microsoft time tracking.

If you have any questions about time tracking, productivity, or even just the metrics to track, reach out to us at @HarmonizeHQ.