How to Check If Staff Are Working Their Full Hours – The Ultimate Guide for Construction & Contracting Firms

Introduction

In construction, civil engineering, utilities, groundworks, and traffic management, ensuring that staff work their full hours is crucial. If your workers are clocking in but not actually working, disappearing mid-shift, or leaving early, your business is losing money.

Common issues construction businesses face include:

❌ Workers clocking in but taking extended breaks or leaving early.
❌ Subcontractors invoicing for more hours than they actually worked.
❌ Lads sitting in vans instead of being on-site and working.
❌ Buddy clock-ins, where one worker clocks in for another who isn’t there.

So, how do you check if staff are working their full hours? How can you verify real hours worked without micromanaging? Let’s dive in.

How to Check If Staff Are Working Their Full Hours

1. Use a Geofencing Time Tracking System

A geofencing clock-in system is the best way to ensure workers only clock in when actually on-site.

🔹 Workers can only clock in and out when physically present at the jobsite.
🔹 Prevents workers from clocking in from home, a cafe, or their van.
🔹 Automatically logs attendance in real-time, eliminating false reporting.

With a system like SubTrack, you get live visibility over who’s on-site and working—helping you eliminate time theft and false clock-ins.

2. Monitor Active Working Time, Not Just Hours Logged

Just because a worker is clocked in doesn’t mean they’re actually working. To verify active work hours, use:

📌 Random spot checks – Visit the site unexpectedly or set up video call check-ins.
📌 Task-based tracking – Measure productivity based on completed tasks, not just time on-site.
📌 Job Reporting – Apps like SubTrack have an inbuilt job-report form. Tell you staff to complete this form at the end of every shift to keep up to date on their progress.

SubTrack helps managers monitor real attendance and productivity—so you’re paying for actual work, not just presence.

3. Use Digital Timesheets with Automated Alerts

Old-school paper timesheets can easily be falsified or lost. Switching to automated digital timesheets provides:

✔️ Accurate logging of clock-in/out times.
✔️ Automatic alerts for early departures or late arrivals.
✔️ Real-time updates on hours worked vs. scheduled shifts.

If workers consistently under-report their hours or leave early, you’ll be able to spot patterns instantly.

4. Check for Discrepancies in Productivity vs. Hours Logged

If a worker logs 8 hours but only completes 4 hours' worth of work, there’s a problem. To identify this:

🔹 Compare expected task completion vs. actual output.
🔹 Monitor materials usage—if hours are logged but minimal materials are used, productivity is low.
🔹 Use supervisor reports to confirm whether workers were active throughout their shifts.

5. Hold Workers Accountable for Full Shift Completion

If you find that some workers aren’t putting in their full hours, it’s important to take action:

👷 Have direct conversations with repeat offenders – “I’ve noticed your logged hours don’t match up with your work output. What’s happening?”
🛠 Set expectations clearly – Make it known that full shift completion is non-negotiable.
💰 Link pay to verified attendance – Consider bonuses for full-hour compliance and penalties for repeat absences.

With SubTrack’s automated attendance tracking, you’ll have hard data to back up any conversations—so workers can’t make excuses.

The Best System for Checking Staff Work Hours

The most effective way to track and verify hours worked is to use a geofencing time tracking app like SubTrack, which:

✔️ Ensures workers can only clock in when physically on-site.
✔️ Automatically records attendance and flags missing hours.
✔️ Provides real-time data on who’s working and who isn’t.
✔️ Eliminates early clock-outs and unverified hours.
✔️ Works for both direct employees and subcontractors.

💡 With SubTrack, you can check staff working hours effortlessly—ensuring full shift completion and real productivity.

Final Thoughts: How to Ensure Staff Work Full Hours

If you’re concerned about workers not putting in their full hours, take proactive steps:

✅ Use a geofencing time tracking system to prevent false clock-ins.
✅ Monitor real-time site attendance and work output.
✅ Switch to digital timesheets for automated tracking.
✅ Hold workers accountable with clear policies and real data.

Want to eliminate time theft and ensure your workforce is actually working? Get started with SubTrack today!