Per Diem in Raken gives supervisors and admins a structured, auditable way to record per diem owed to employees working on projects that require it — like remote jobsites, out-of-town work, or project-specific agreements. Entries can be created individually or in bulk for entire crews, directly alongside your time entry workflow.
Quick Answer
To create a per diem entry in Raken:
Navigate to Time > Review > Per Diem.
Click or tap the orange + Per Diem button.
Select a Project, Employee, Date, and Type.
Add a Description if needed.
Click or tap Save.
Per diem entries are independent of time cards — they can be created even on days when no time card exists for that employee.
Requires the Performance Plan.
On the Web
Step 1: Navigate to Per Diem
Log into the Raken web app. Click Time in the left navigation, then click Review > Per Diem.
Step 2: Open the New Per Diem Form
Click the orange + Per Diem button in the top right corner.
Step 3: Select the Project and Employee
Select the Project, then the Employee. To create entries in bulk, select a Crew or choose multiple employees.
Bulk entry is useful for traveling crews where all members are owed the same per diem for the same project.
Step 4: Set the Date and Type
Select the Date. Future dates are supported. Select the Type: Travel, Meals, Lodging, or Other.
Step 5: Add a Description
Add a Description to provide context for payroll review — such as the applicable rate, location, or any relevant details. Attach any Supporting Documentation if needed.
Per diem amounts are not tracked directly in Raken. Use the Description field to note amounts if needed.
Step 6: Save
Click the orange Save button. A per diem entry is created for each selected employee.
Creating Per Diem During Time Card Entry
Per diem can be added while creating a time card — no separate navigation needed.
On Web
Open or create a time card. Click the ellipsis (...) next to the Cost code field. Select Add per diem. Fill in the Date, Type, and Description, then click Save.
On Mobile
Open or create a time card. Tap the ellipsis (...) at the top of the form. Select Per diem. Fill in the Date, Type, and Description, then tap ✓.
On Mobile
Step 1: Navigate to Per Diem
Tap Time in the bottom navigation bar, then tap Review > Per Diem.
Step 2: Create a New Entry
Tap the orange +. Select Employee(s), Project, Date, and Type. Add a Description if needed. Tap ✓ to save.
Adding Per Diem from the Clock Tab
Tap Time > Clock. Tap the ellipsis (...) next to any employee's name. Select Per diem. Fill in the Date, Type, and Description, then tap ✓.
Troubleshooting & FAQ
Can I create a per diem entry without a time card for that day?
Yes. Per diem entries are completely independent of time cards.
Can I record per diem for a future date?
Yes. Select any future date when creating the entry.
Can field employees submit their own per diem requests?
Not currently. Per diem entries are created by supervisors and admins on behalf of employees.
Can I edit a per diem entry after saving?
Yes. Navigate to Time > Review > Per Diem, click the ellipsis (...) on the entry, and select Edit.
Technical Specifications
Compatibility: iOS 15+, Android 10+, and all major web browsers
Offline Capability: No — requires an active connection
Plan Required: Performance Plan
Add-on Required: None
Role Required: Supervisor or Account Administrator
Considerations
Requires the Performance Plan. Contact your account manager to upgrade.
Per diem captures the type of per diem owed — not dollar amounts. Use the Description field to note amounts.
Per diem is day-based — one entry covers a day regardless of how many time cards exist for that employee.
Employees cannot submit their own per diem requests — this is a supervisor and admin function.
Bulk entries can be created for multiple employees at once. Attachments must be added individually after saving.
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More Questions?
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