This guide explains how to restrict employees from punching in on their mobile devices unless they are within a designated work area. This feature, often called geo-fencing, is useful for ensuring employees are physically present at the worksite when they start their shifts.
The process involves two main phases: first, defining the authorized location(s), and second, applying that restriction to an employee contract.
Step-by-Step Guide
Phase 1: Defining an Authorized Location (Worksite)
- Navigate to Customers:
- From the main dashboard, click on “Customers” in the left-hand navigation menu.
- Create a New Location:
- Click the “Create new customer” button at the top of the page to define physical worksites.
- Set the Address and Radius:
- Address: Enter the full address and select the correct location from Google Maps suggestions.
- Radius: Define the permissible distance (e.g., 100 meters) from the central address point.
- Save: Click “Save” to store the new location.
Phase 2: Applying the Location Restriction to a Contract
- Navigate to Contracts:
- Return to the sidebar, click on “Settings”, then select “Contracts”
- Select the Relevant Contract:
- Click on the contract that applies to the employees you wish to restrict
- Access Smartphone Conditions:
- On the contract edit page, scroll down and expand the “Timeclock conditions for smartphones” section
- Enable and Assign the Location Restriction:
- Check the box next to “Allow to punch only on the following locations”
- Select the location(s) you created in Phase 1 from the dropdown menu
- Save Your Changes:
- Click the “Save” button at the bottom to apply the restriction
- Radius as Geo-Fence: The radius creates a virtual boundary (a geo-fence) around the specified address. The system uses the phone’s GPS to verify the employee’s location is inside this boundary before allowing a punch-in.
- Multiple Locations: You can define multiple worksites under “Customers” and then assign any or all of them as authorized locations within a single contract.