> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fieldtime.gaitools.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Track Your Work Hours with the FieldTime Punch Clock

> Non-exempt employees use the Punch Clock to clock in, take meal breaks, and clock out. Time is automatically recorded against your project.

The FieldTime Punch Clock is the primary time-tracking tool for **non-exempt (hourly) employees**. Every clock-in starts a live elapsed timer, and every clock-out saves a complete, California-compliant shift record — including meal breaks — to your weekly timesheet automatically. You never have to enter hours manually.

<Warning>
  California law requires a 30-minute meal break before your 5th hour of work. FieldTime will remind you with a color-coded alert as the deadline approaches, and will flag a compliance issue on your timesheet if a required break is missed.
</Warning>

## Clocking In

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Punch Clock">
    Navigate to **Punch Clock** in the main menu. If you have no active shift, you'll see the **Start Your Shift** panel.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap Clock In">
    Tap the green **Clock In** button. Your shift timer starts immediately — project and labor classification assignment happens in the next step, so your exact start time is captured right away.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Assign your project">
    An assignment form appears in the active-shift banner. Type a project code or name in the **Project** field to filter the list, then select your project. Choose a **Phase** and **Task** if applicable, then pick your **Labor Classification**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the assignment">
    Tap **Confirm Assignment**. The banner updates to show your project name, phase, task, and classification. Your timer continues uninterrupted.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Select a Favorite Project to pre-fill project, phase, and task and skip the dropdowns. See [Favorite Projects](/time-tracking/favorite-projects) to set one up.
</Tip>

## The Live Elapsed Timer

Once you are clocked in and your assignment is confirmed, the active-shift banner displays a live **HH:MM:SS** elapsed timer. The timer runs against the server clock, so it stays accurate even if your device's clock is slightly off. The banner also shows the exact time you clocked in, your current project and phase, and your labor classification.

If you are on a meal break, the banner switches to a yellow **ON MEAL BREAK** state and the timer pauses counting your working time.

## Adding Shift Notes

While clocked in, a **Notes** box appears below the compliance panel. Type any notes about the shift — they are saved directly to your time entry and will appear in your timesheet detail after you clock out. Tap **Save Notes** to store changes; an "Unsaved changes" indicator appears if you have typed but not yet saved.

## Taking a Meal Break

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start the break">
    Tap the yellow **Start Meal Break** button. The active-shift banner switches to the **ON MEAL BREAK** state and records the exact start time.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Return from break">
    When you return, tap **End Meal Break**. FieldTime records the duration.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the duration">
    If your break was under 30 minutes, a warning dialog will ask you to confirm before returning to work. A break shorter than 30 minutes does **not** count as a qualifying meal period under California Labor Code §512.
  </Step>
</Steps>

FieldTime automatically tracks your first and second meal break deadlines (5-hour and 10-hour marks) and escalates the on-screen alert from blue → amber → red as each deadline approaches. If you and your employer have a mutual agreement, you can tap **Waive First Meal Break** or **Waive Second Meal Break** when the waiver buttons appear; waivers can be revoked at any time during the shift.

## Changing Projects Mid-Shift

You can move to a different project without clocking out. This is treated as one continuous shift for California §512 meal-break timing purposes — the 5-hour clock does not reset.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Tap Switch Project">
    In the active-shift banner, tap **Switch Project**. The button is disabled while you are on a meal break — end the break first.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the new project">
    Choose the new project, phase, task, and labor classification in the modal. Your current classification carries over by default unless it is not allowed on the new project.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the switch">
    Tap **Confirm Switch**. The current punch closes at the current moment and a new punch opens immediately on the selected project. You'll see a confirmation toast: "Switched project. Shift continues uninterrupted."
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Clocking Out

When your shift is complete, tap the red **Clock Out** button in the active-shift banner. A confirmation dialog appears — tap **Yes, Clock Out** to end the shift. FieldTime records your clock-out time, calculates net hours (total time minus qualifying meal breaks), and saves the completed entry to your weekly timesheet.

<Note>
  You must have a project and labor classification assigned, and you must not be on an active meal break, before you can clock out. If either condition is unmet, the Clock Out button is disabled with an explanatory message.
</Note>

<Tip>
  If you accidentally tapped Clock In, tap **Undo Clock-In** within 5 minutes (before you've assigned a project). The punch is canceled and no time entry is created.
</Tip>

## Offline Support

FieldTime records every clock-in, meal break, and clock-out action locally on your device when you lose network connectivity. A sync hint appears at the bottom of the screen reminding you to keep FieldTime open. When your connection returns, all pending actions sync automatically to the server.

## NFC Tap-to-Clock

If your job site has an NFC tag configured by your administrator, hold your phone near the tag to clock in or clock out instantly — no tapping through the UI required. The same project assignment flow opens after an NFC clock-in so you can confirm your assignment.