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

# Missing clock-out

> What happens in TimeTracker when you forget to clock out – how the 18-hour sweep flags the session, why no time is invented, and how to fix the day.

If you forget to clock out, your session stays open. TimeTracker notices, flags
it, and asks you to set the real time. It never guesses a clock-out for you.

## What happens

1. Your session stays open past the end of the day.
2. Once it has been open for more than **18 hours**, a daily sweep flags it.
3. The session is marked as needing a correction, and you get a notification.
4. Your clock button changes to **Clock-out missing**.
5. You set the real clock-out time on your timecard.

<Warning>
  TimeTracker never invents a clock-out time. Timecards feed attendance and
  payroll, so a made-up figure would be worse than a flagged gap. The real time
  comes from you or your manager.
</Warning>

## The 18-hour window

Eighteen hours is longer than any real shift, including an overnight run with
overtime, and shorter than a full day – so the next daily sweep always catches an
open session exactly once.

A session already flagged is skipped, so it is never flagged twice.

## What you see

### In the top bar

The clock button turns into a warning:

> ⚠ **Clock-out missing**

Opening it shows:

> **Clock-out missing**
> This session was left open. Clock out now, then fix the time on your Timecard.

The elapsed counter stops, because the number no longer means anything.

### On your timecard

The day carries a **Fix** badge, and the shift list in the clock panel marks the
session with a small **fix** tag. The day's status is **Incomplete** while a
session is still open.

## Fix it

<Steps>
  <Step title="Clock out">
    Open the clock panel and click **Clock out**. This closes the session so the
    day stops counting.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Time → Timecards">
    Move to the period containing that day.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the row menu">
    Click the ⋯ on the affected day and choose **Edit times**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the real clock-out">
    Retype the second time field with when you actually finished.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Done">
    The day recomputes. The **Fix** badge clears and the status updates.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Editing the times clears the correction flag automatically – there is nothing
extra to dismiss.

## If a manager fixes it

Anyone with `timecard.manage` can open your timecard, use **Edit times**, and set
the correct clock-out on your behalf.

They can also resolve the flag without changing the times, if the recorded time
was right all along. Approving or rejecting a correction sends you a
notification either way.

## Example

Jonas Bergman clocks in at 09:00 on Thursday, works until 18:00, and closes his
laptop without clocking out.

* Thursday evening: nothing happens yet. The session is only nine hours old.
* Friday morning at around 09:00: the sweep runs. The session has been open more
  than 18 hours, so it is flagged and Jonas is notified.
* Jonas opens TimeTracker and sees **Clock-out missing** in the top bar.
* He clicks **Clock out** to close the session, then opens **Time → Timecards**.
* Thursday shows `09:00 – 09:14` on Friday morning with a **Fix** badge. He uses
  **Edit times**, sets the clock-out to `18:00`, and clicks **Done**.
* Thursday now reads **Worked 9h**, **Scheduled 8h**, **Variance +1h**, **Over
  scheduled**.

## Notifications

The flag sends a `timecard.missing_clock_out` notification to the person whose
session it is. You get it even though the flag came from the system rather than a
colleague.

You can turn it off in your own notification settings – see
[Your notification settings](/notifications/your-notification-settings).

<Note>
  The sweep only runs in workspaces where the **Time Clock** app is on. If the app
  is switched off, no sessions are flagged and no reminders are sent.
</Note>

## Prevent it

* Clock out before you close your laptop, not after.
* Use **Take a break** rather than leaving a session open over lunch.
* Check the top bar at the end of the day – a running clock is a reminder.
* Glance at the **Timecards** tab before you submit the period.

## Permissions

| Action                                       | You need          |
| -------------------------------------------- | ----------------- |
| Clock out your own session                   | `timecard.clock`  |
| Edit your own times                          | `timecard.clock`  |
| Edit someone else's times                    | `timecard.manage` |
| Resolve a flagged correction on someone else | `timecard.manage` |

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Will my hours be wrong until I fix it?">
    While the session is open the day counts as **Incomplete** and the worked
    total excludes it. Fixing the clock-out puts the right hours back.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I clock in again while a session is flagged?">
    Clock out of the flagged session first. Only one session can be open at a
    time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why not clock me out automatically at midnight?">
    Because that would be a made-up number on a payroll record. TimeTracker
    prefers to say "this needs fixing" and let a person supply the truth.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if the period is already submitted?">
    A submitted period is frozen. Withdraw the submission, or ask an owner or
    admin to reopen it, then fix the day.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does it flag more than once?">
    No. A session already marked for correction is skipped by later sweeps.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Timecards" icon="table" href="/time-clock/timecards">
    Where you correct the shift times.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Clock in and out" icon="clock" href="/time-clock/clock-in-and-out">
    Daily use of the clock button.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reminders" icon="bell" href="/notifications/reminders">
    Which nudges TimeTracker sends.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Submit a timecard" icon="paper-plane" href="/time-clock/submit-a-timecard">
    Finishing a clean period.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>