How to Know If Your Workers Are Actually On Site – The Ultimate Guide for Construction & Contracting Firms

Introduction

One of the biggest challenges in construction, civil engineering, utilities, groundworks, and traffic management is making sure your workers are actually on-site when they say they are.

Too often, business owners trust paper timesheets or verbal reports, only to realise later that:

❌ Workers have clocked in from their van, the cafe, or even their home.
❌ Subcontractors aren’t where they should be when they’re supposed to be.
❌ Labour costs are higher than they should be due to false hours being claimed.

So, how do you know if your lads are actually on-site? How can you verify that your workers are working and not just clocking in and disappearing? Let’s break it down.

How Do I Know If My Lads Are Actually On Site?

The simplest and most reliable way to verify attendance is by using geofencing time tracking technology.

🔹 Geofencing sets a virtual boundary around your site.
🔹 Workers can only clock in and out if they’re physically inside this area.
🔹 If they’re late, leave early, or don’t show up, you’ll know instantly.

With a geofencing solution like SubTrack, you get real-time visibility over every worker’s attendance. No more guessing. No more false clock-ins.

How Do You Find Out If Someone Is Actually Working?

Just knowing your lads are on-site isn’t enough—you need to make sure they’re actually working and not standing around wasting time.

Here’s how you can track productivity effectively:

1. Use Geofencing & Automatic Clock-Ins

If workers can’t clock in until they’re actually on-site, you eliminate early clock-ins from home, the van or the cafe. This ensures you only pay for actual time worked. If they do try to clock-in or out outside of the site, you’ll know about it and you’ll have the control to approve or deny it retrospectively.

2. Set Up Random Spot Checks

Surprise visits or video calls to the site can verify that workers are actually doing the job they’re paid for.

3. Monitor Output Instead of Just Hours

Rather than focusing solely on hours worked, measure:
✔️ Tasks completed per day
✔️ Materials used vs. expected
✔️ Progress against project milestones

This approach ensures workers are actively contributing rather than just being present.

4. Use Live Site Tracking & Check-Ins

Some advanced time tracking solutions allow real-time check-ins that require workers to update their status during the day. This prevents workers from disappearing mid-shift.

How Do I Know If My Subcontractors Are Actually On Site?

Subcontractors can be even harder to track than direct employees. They work for multiple clients, often have their own teams, and don’t always communicate their movements clearly.

Here’s how to keep track of them effectively:

🔹 Use a Geofencing Time Tracking App – Subcontractors can only clock in when they’re physically on-site.
🔹 Request Live Location Updates – Some tracking apps allow subcontractors to confirm their location throughout the day.
🔹 Set Check-In Requirements – Require subcontractors to check in with the site manager upon arrival.
🔹 Monitor Their Work Output – If they’re invoicing for 8 hours but the job isn’t progressing, something’s wrong.

SubTrack makes it easy to verify subcontractor attendance without constant micromanagement.

The Solution: Geofence Time Tracking with SubTrack

A geofencing clock-in app like SubTrack is the best way to eliminate false clock-ins and unverified attendance.

✔️ Workers can only clock in when they’re actually on-site
✔️ You get real-time updates on who’s there and who isn’t
✔️ No more “ghost workers” or subcontractors claiming hours they haven’t worked
✔️ Payroll is based on actual attendance, not guesswork

Want to know exactly who’s on-site, in real-time? Get started with SubTrack today!