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The standard timesheets were originally individual single-use timesheets created manually on paper. While they do get the job done for tracking work hours, their disadvantage over timesheet templates is that employees have to create them from scratch. Handwritten timesheets are almost obsolete as, today, most companies use their own templates that greatly speed up the time tracking process.
Timesheet templates save time as they are reusable and can be duplicated indefinitely. Moreover, employees can print the timesheet templates in cases when they have to physically submit them to their managers, or they can digitally export them for approval in multiple file types, including .xltx, PDF, XLS, and more.
Why Are Timesheet Templates Used?
Timesheet templates are suitable for any type of business as they are simple to use and time efficient.
Moreover, timesheet templates are designed to be straightforward, so employees only need to log the following information:
- Name and surname
- Start and end hours
- Timesheet date
- Hourly rate
- The week they are submitting their hours for
Some templates are set up to automatically calculate the totals and inform employees of their total number of regular hours, overtime hours, hourly rate, and total payment before they send them for approval. Furthermore, some timesheet templates can separate non-billable from billable hours automatically.
This allows managers to approve them quickly and easily. It also allows for almost instant processing and seamless client billing and invoicing that results in accurate payroll for the entire team.
What Are the Types of Timesheet Templates?
There are different types of timesheet templates that are used around the workspace, each with its own advantages, disadvantages, and applicability. The following timesheet templates are the most common types for most businesses.
Hourly Timesheet Templates
Hourly timesheet templates display the total number of hours employees have worked over a definite period of time (a week, month, or even a whole year). They’re mostly used by hourly employees as they enable them to track their total number of working hours and use them as proof to get paid for the time they’ve spent on billable tasks.
Managers use the data from the hourly templates to create reports on how many hours each employee has worked for a specific time period.
Daily Timesheet Templates
Daily timesheet templates display the total number of hours employees have worked on a specific workday on a single spreadsheet. Employees use daily timesheets and submit them to their managers after the end of each shift.
Managers use the data from the daily timesheet template to create a report that includes the employees' work hours, the start and end time of their workday, and to calculate their wages for the day. The wages are most commonly calculated on an hourly basis and include overtime hours.
Weekly Timesheet Templates
Weekly timesheet templates display the weekly tasks and the total amount of work hours employees have worked throughout the week. They can also include overtime and absences.
Managers use weekly timesheets to have an insight into the tasks employees have worked on during the week and the number of hours they put into completing them. Moreover, managers use weekly timesheet templates to calculate the employees’ weekly payroll or send the template as an invoice to clients that pay on weekly billing cycles.
Monthly Timesheet Templates
Monthly timesheet templates display the number of hours employees have worked throughout a month. Moreover, these templates include details about the regular, overtime hours, absences, and sick days of the employee over the course of one month.
Managers use monthly timesheet templates to calculate the employees’ payroll for a month or send the template as an invoice to clients that use a monthly billing cycle. The monthly template includes the totals for each employee for a specific month, and the payroll is summarized on an hourly basis.
Billable Project Templates
Billable project timesheet templates display information about individual employees who worked on multiple projects and project-related tasks during the course of a workday, week, month, or year, depending on the length of the project.
Managers use billable project templates to send accurate invoices to clients that contain every detail regarding the project’s progress. This includes the total amount of work hours, overtime hours, sick days, absences, tasks, milestones, etc.
