Browser Clocking

Streamline your clocking process by clocking on a web browser

Browser-based clocking allows employees to clock in using any desktop or tablet device via a secure browser link directly connected to your Operation. Using browser-based clocking simplifies the process by making it more accessible across different work environments.

This clocking option offers businesses a practical way to track time without the need for personal phones or on-site iPads.

Benefits of browser clocking include:

• The same time tracking features as our iPad clocking (excluding photo capture).
• The ability to clock in on devices such as tablets, desktop computers, or POS systems with web access.

Just like with iPad clocking, each Operation within your platform can support multiple linked devices, enabling more flexible clocking options and reducing competition for a single device among staff.

  Hot tip: This clocking method isn't application-based and doesn't require an app like the foundU Employee or Clock app, just internet access!

In this article, we will cover:

• Installing a Browser Clock to an Operation
• The Browser clocking experience for employees
• How employees can reset their passcodes

  To understand all available timekeeping methods on your platform, please refer to our main Clocking article.

Connect your Browser to an Operation

To begin clocking on your chosen device, you first need to install your Clock on your Browser within the relevant Operation. If you and your employees are familiar with clocking in on an iPad (foundU Clock app), you'll find both setting up the Browser Clock and clocking in and out to be a straightforward process.

  Hot Tip: If you are already using an iPad for clocking in your business, you can install Browser clocking on additional devices to make it easier for employees to clock in and out at different stations. An employee can clock in on an iPad and out on a browser if linked to the same Operation.

Setting up your Browsers

Setting up a browser is a quick and easy process, and you can easily configure this so that there are multiple devices that allow employees to clock in and out!

To install a browser to an Operation:

1. Navigate to Operations > Approved Operations.
2. Select the name of the Operation you wish to set up your Browser clock. Select the Cog next to the Operation name.
3. From the Operation settings menu on the left, select Installed clocks. 

4. Here you'll see a list of all installed clocks for this Operation, which includes Clock apps (iPads) and installed browsers. From here, select Install a Clock App> Browser installation.

   

5. Name your Clock, and select Next. Since you can have Browser clocking on multiple devices, it's a good idea to use the device's location name. e.g. Front POS, or Manager phone.
6. Select the copy icon to capture the unique, one-time-use installation URL.

7. Paste this link into the Browser on the device where you want to start clocking.

     Hot Tip: If needed, you can also email the link to another manager to paste into the Browser of the required device. This is helpful if you work in the Head Office and are not in the same location as the clocking device. 

   

8. Repeat this process for any additional devices needed for your Operation. Each device added will require its own installation URL. After installing your Browser, you can view each iPad and Browser linked to an Operation. This includes the device type and its current status.

Once logged in successfully, your Browser will display the clock login screen (below). Your employees can start clocking in and out!

  Hot Tip: As soon as you install your Browser, we suggest bookmarking this page immediately, as it will make it easier to find the URL if the Browser is closed by mistake.

  Employees can now clock in; however, if they haven't already done so, they will need to set up their Clock Passcode first.

The Browser clocking experience for employees

Like any clocking method in foundU, Browser clocking will adhere to all of your Clock configurations that you have chosen for the relevant Operation, this includes:

• • Displaying employees' breaks as defined in your Break Scheduler.
  • Clock settings include capturing reasons for unrostered shifts, as well as early or late clock times.
  • Clock calculations that determine how clocking information is interpreted for shift approvals, including auto-approval thresholds and clock rounding.

  For detailed information on each Clock setting and Clock calculation, please take a look at our full Clocking article.

Browser Clocking experience

Just like iPad clocking, employees will clock on a browser by entering their:

• • foundU Employee ID - The system creates this number upon initial onboarding to foundU.
  • Clock Passcode - Employees can set this 4-digit passcode during onboarding or update it at any time via the Employee App.

In the content below, we provide a brief overview of browser clocking, enabling you to understand the clocking experience for your employees. This will be helpful in choosing the clocking method/s that are best for your business.

  To fully understand all aspects of Browser clocking for employees, such as clocking in and out, taking breaks, and unrostered shifts, please refer to our clocking employee guide.

To Start a Shift:

1. From the Browser Clock page, the employee will enter the Employee ID and Passcode.
2. Next, they can review their shift details, including:
   • Shift start and end times
   • Paid and unpaid break times

   • Any shift notes left by their manager

       For an unrostered shift, depending on your platform's settings, employees may be required to select the relevant roster & provide a reason as to why they start a shift. 

3. Once ready, they select the Start shift button to begin the shift.

   

   The Clock will now return to the initial clock screen, ready for the following employee to clock in!

  Please note: Employees will be unable to start their shifts or breaks if there is no or low internet connectivity. If your business is in a remote area, consider using one of the other clocking methods or Submit Shifts. 

Troubleshooting Browser clocking

Sometimes, you may need to troubleshoot clocking on your installed browsers. This usually happens when the Browser is closed accidentally or hasn't been used for a while, causing the Clock to display as offline in its status under Installed clocks.

Below, we will be looking at the following use cases:

• • The Browser has been closed
  • The installed Browser is offline
    
    

The Browser has been closed

When your employees are using the Browser, it may be closed accidentally, the cache may have been cleared from the Browser, or the computer might be restarted without the browser clock page reopening.

Ideally, once you install a browser, it's best to bookmark this page immediately to prevent this from happening.

To locate and reopen the browser link:

1. Make sure you're using the same web browser type that you normally use on this device, as this Browser will remember the installed URL.
   • For example, if you installed the browser clock using Google Chrome, reopen Chrome to reload the browser URL.
2. Enter https://clock.foundu.com.au/auth/employee, and this should reopen your browser clock.
3. If you have recently cleared your browsing history or cleared your cache, then the above Browser may have been cleared. In this instance, you'll need to reinstall the Browser by creating a new one-time URL.  

For details on reinstalling a browser, refer to the 'Connect your Browser to an Operation' section above.

The installed Browser is offline

Depending on your service or location, your internet connection might drop out sometimes. Without the internet, your employees will not be able to clock in.

Within your Operation settings, you can see a list of each iPad and Browser installed, along with the type of device linked to an Operation, and its current status. These include:

• • Offline - The Clock has lost internet connectivity, and it needs to be restored.
  • Online - The Clock is online and functioning well.
  • Never used - No clock times have been recorded.

  Hot tip: Whenever having issues with an installed clock, it is a good idea to check that you have stable connectivity with the local Wi-Fi.

To troubleshoot this issue:

• • Check your Wi-Fi connection on your device. Try turning it off and then on again, and refresh your Browser's page.
  • If your internet is down, and clock times are vital to your business, consider using a mobile device as a hotspot until your internet is restored.

Resetting employee passcodes

From time to time, your employee might need to update their passcode for various reasons, such as:

• • A long period has passed since they set up their code during onboarding
  • The employee has shared their passcode and needs to change it

  • They have simply forgotten it

To reset an employee's Clock App passcode, there are 2 options:

• • The employee can reset it.
    • The employee can do this via their Employee app at any time.
  • An admin user with the appropriate permissions can reset it on their behalf.
    • Admins will require the 'Access Approved People', 'Impersonate Employee', and 'View Employee Pay Rates' permissions to update an employee's passcode on their behalf.

  Please note: We generally recommend that employees reset their passcodes for security reasons. However, admins can also help with this in certain situations, such as when an employee does not have their phone.