For companies that work on an hourly basis, a time tracker is a key tool for project and task implementation. For example, our client, the performance marketing agency ROMAN.UA, significantly increased their average service fee using Worksection’s time tracker.
Pros and Cons of Time Tracking for Tasks
Let’s start with the cons, or rather, one con: team adaptation to the time tracker. Using a timer to log time spent on tasks isn’t easy for all teams for several reasons:
- Initially, the team might see the time tracker as a sign of mistrust from management or clients (which is not the case).
- Employees might forget to start the timer for tasks. However, with practice, using the timer becomes automatic, and if the timer wasn’t started, the actual time and cost can always be entered after the task is completed.
How Time Tracking is Useful for Tasks
Provides Clear Expense Understanding: If multiple employees work on a task, each logs their time with the timer, and these sessions are summed up. The time tracker records the time spent on task implementation.
- Hourly Rate Logging: If an employee has a fixed hourly rate, they can also log it in the tracker window. This is a major advantage for all team members.
- Supports Higher Pay Argumentation: Team members can argue for higher pay if the actual time spent on a task exceeds the estimated time.
- Forms Detailed Reports: Based on time tracker data, the company accountant can generate reports at the end of a period, showing time spent and payments, if applicable, for each employee.
- Ensures Transparent Processes for Clients: Clients paying by the hour want to understand how time was spent. If actual costs differ from estimated ones, the report can justify the pricing.
How to Motivate Employees to Adopt Time Tracking
One key motivation is showing successful time tracking examples, whether personal or from other companies, as described in our Postmen case study.Appoint a Time Tracker Adaptation Responsible
Select an employee to help the team adapt. This person should be well-versed in using the timer and highly motivated to use it, which will motivate other team members.
This responsible person will also assist with any questions and ensure that team members systematically start and stop the timer when working on tasks.
Choosing a Time Tracking Service
Many task managers offer time tracking as a key function. When choosing a service, focus on its simplicity and accessibility.
The time tracker should be equally easy to use for IT specialists and accountants. If the tracker is intuitive for the entire team, regardless of their experience with task managers and time tracking, it’s a key indicator of simplicity.
Worksection Timer Example
In Worksection, you can start the timer without opening the task itself, just by hovering over it in the task list and clicking “Start Timer”.
You can also start the timer within the task by clicking “Start Timer” or through “My Tasks,” by selecting the required task and clicking “Start Timer”.
Multiple access points to the timer facilitate quick adaptation. You can stop the timer by any of the methods above or by clicking “Stop and Save” (the pause icon in the upper right corner of the main account page).
Timer Comment Window
Not all project management systems have this, but Worksection’s time tracker allows each employee to add comments to the timer.
Viewing the timer report, the accountant, client, or company manager will see the description of the logged time.
For example if more time was spent on a task than planned, the employee can write the reason in the comment window. This option makes the report more informative for the company and clear for the client paying by the hour.
Useful Features in Worksection
Besides the above methods, you can start the timer with a double-click or using the Alt‑S combination.
How to Test Time Tracking for Your Team
You can test all the functionalities of the task manager, including the Timer option, for free in a Worksection account for 14 days. Register your account in two clicks, suggest the team test time tracking, explain the new option’s purpose, and share this article link.