Punch restriction rules control when employees can clock in and out. Use these rules to enforce schedule adherence, prevent early or late punches, and limit clocking based on hours worked. For schedule-based restrictions to apply, employees must have assigned shifts. Learn more in Add and Assign Shifts to the Scheduler.
Set up a punch restriction rule
Go to Global Settings > Time Tracking > Punch Restriction.
Click Create Rule.
Enter a Name for the rule.
Select when the rule should take effect using Starting on.
Choose the Audience:
Everyone for the company-wide baseline policy.
Specific group for department or role-based rules.
Specific employee for individual exceptions.
Configure restriction settings. If no options are selected, employees can only clock in and out exactly at their scheduled shift times.
Click Save.
Restrict based on schedules
These settings define when employees can clock in and out relative to their scheduled shifts. If an employee attempts to punch outside the allowed time window, the system blocks the action.
How early can an employee clock in allows clock-in before the scheduled start time.
How late can an employee clock in allows clock-in after the scheduled start time.
How early can an employee clock out allows clock-out before the scheduled end time.
How late can an employee clock out allows clock-out after the scheduled end time.
Allow employees to punch when they do not have a scheduled shift controls whether unscheduled punches are allowed.
Allow manager punch override allows managers to bypass restrictions.
Restrict based on hours worked
These settings control whether employees can clock in based on total hours worked during the workweek. An overtime rule must be configured for these options to apply.
Restrict clocking in after the employee reaches weekly overtime prevents clock-in once the overtime threshold is reached.
Restrict clocking in when the employee reaches worked hours in a workweek prevents clock-in after a defined weekly hour limit.
Recommended setup approach
Use one Everyone rule to define the company-wide baseline.
Combine all standard restrictions into this rule.
Create additional rules for Specific group or Specific employee only when exceptions are required.
Important: Only one Everyone rule can be active at a time. Creating a new Everyone rule automatically ends the previous one.
Example everyone rule
Rule name: Late clock-in limit 10 minutes
How early can an employee clock in: 0:05 (optional)
How late can an employee clock in: 0:10
How early can an employee clock out: 0:05 (optional)
How late can an employee clock out: 0:05 (optional)
Allow employees to punch when they do not have a scheduled shift: Off
Restrict clocking in after 40 hours: On (if applicable)
Rule name examples
Everyone (company-wide)
Standard punch policy
Company-wide punch restrictions
Default attendance enforcement
Standard schedule enforcement
Specific group or employee
No late clock-in beyond 10 minutes
Part-time weekly cap 30 hours
Warehouse early clock-in 15 minutes
Retail flexible punch window
Overtime lockout at 40 hours
Restrict unscheduled punches
Manager override enabled
Important note
Hours-based restrictions require an overtime rule to be configured. Learn more in Add or Update Overtime.
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