FAQ - Time & Attendance Approvals & Timesheet Editing

This FAQ addresses management and troubleshooting of BambooHR's Time & Attendance feature. It covers common queries regarding timesheet approvals, missed clock-outs, editing restrictions, and system notifications. Key topics include the ability to approve timesheets before the pay period ends, actions for employees who forget to clock out, and the process for editing approved timesheets. Additionally, it clarifies that there is no reject option for timesheets and outlines the roles of Full Admins in the approval process. The document emphasizes the importance of ensuring accuracy prior to payroll processing and provides links to related articles for further information.

  • Jun 18, 2026
  • Knowledge

Title
FAQ - Time & Attendance Approvals & Timesheet Editing
Article Text
Time & Attendance (Formerly Time Tracking) is available as an add-on.

What are the most frequently asked questions about Time & Attendance approvals and timesheet editing?

FAQs

Can I approve timesheets before the pay period ends?

Normally, approvals happen after the pay period ends. However, BambooHR automatically opens approvals early if:

  • The payday falls on a weekend or holiday, or
  • There's no buffer between pay period end and payday.

You'll have a 24-hour approval window, and you may need to future-date an end time to finalize the timesheet.

For example:

  • If today is Wednesday and the pay period runs through Friday, enter 5:00 PM Friday.

BambooHR allows you to enter this as a future end time even before the actual date occurs.

What happens if an employee forgets to clock out?

If an employee is still clocked in at approval time, BambooHR prompts the approver to enter a clock-out time before approving. Alternatively, you can clock them out manually from their Timesheet tab.

Additionally, if it is not yet time to approve timesheets, the employee will be see a Verify Time and Clock Out warning when they go to clock in next time. If the employee does not have access to edit their timesheet, they will be prompted to notify their manager instead.

Can I unapprove or undo a timesheet approval?

No. Once a timesheet is approved, it cannot be unapproved. However, Full Admin users can edit approved timesheets for record corrections. If your employee is still clocked in and over-logged their timesheet, click here.

To Edit an Approved Timesheet (Full Admins Only)

  1. Navigate to the employee's Timesheet tab.
  2. Locate the time entry.
  3. Click on the date to open the time entry details.
  4. Hover on the entry and click the pencil icon.
  5. Make your changes and click Save.

Important: If payroll has already been started for this pay period, any changes you make afterward may not sync to payroll automatically. You may need to reset payroll or manually adjust the hours.

Can I reject a timesheet and send it back to the employee?

There is no reject function. You can either:

  • Ask the employee to edit their timesheet before you approve it (if they have edit rights), or
  • Adjust entries directly as an administrator.
Can Full Admins or Custom Access levels approve timesheets if a manager is unavailable?

Yes. Full Admins always have approval permissions. You can also grant permission to custom access level users.

To approve timesheets outside the regular workflow, navigate to the inbox, switch the view to Assigned to Company, and select Timesheets. Alternatively, you can approve timesheets using our Time & Attendance reports.

Why did a manager receive an approval email after Time & Attendance was disabled?

If Time & Attendance was enabled and later disabled before hours were added, the system may still send an approval notification. The manager can approve the 0-hour timesheet to clear it. The employee will not appear in the Payroll Hours Report unless Time & Attendance is re-enabled.

Why doesn't paid time appear on timesheets?

Paid time off is displayed as a reference on the right side of the timesheet. This allows flexibility when employees work partial days and take partial time off.

Does BambooHR notify me if employees clock in early or late?

No. We do not notify administrators if an employee clocks in early or late as BambooHR does not manage employee schedules. However, the Timesheet Entries Report shows employee start times, who is currently clocked in, and break violation information.

Why can't I delete a past timesheet entry? I have Full Admin access.

If a Full Admin can't delete a past timesheet entry, it's likely because you are trying to delete an entry from a previous pay period while viewing the current pay period. If you go back to the previous pay period and then select the time entry, you will see the delete button.

You can only delete a time entry while specifically viewing its pay period.

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