What is a Time Card?

A time card is a cardboard ticket on which is printed the hours worked by an employee during one work week. The card is usually inserted into a time clock that prints onto it the time at which an employee begins and stops work. It is used by the payroll staff to calculate the hours for which an employee shall be paid.

Time Card Controls

There are several controls associated with time cards that can be implemented as part of a payroll system. They are as follows:

Buddy punch monitoring. A webcam can be installed near a time clock to determine who is punching in and out. This control is useful for spotting instances of buddy punching, where a fellow employee punches in someone who is not on the premises.
Card approvals. The direct supervisor of each employee should review and approve his or her time card. This is a verification of the hours worked.

The Difference Between a Time Card and a Timesheet

A time card differs from a timesheet in that employees enter their own hours worked on a timesheet, and the timesheet frequently contains additional information, such as the jobs on which a person worked. Timesheets are more commonly used in job shop operations, where labor hours are charged to specific customer projects.