Time Policies define the rules that govern how your employees track and verify time in Raken. Setting up your policy correctly from the start ensures every time card follows your company's requirements — from overtime rules and break types to pay types and shift assignments.
Quick Answer
To set up a Time Policy in Raken:
Click Company in the left navigation, then click Time > Policies.
Click Edit policy on an existing policy, or + New policy to create one.
Work through each section: Settings, Overtime rules, Premiums, Breaks, Rounding, Pay types, Shifts, Employees.
Click Save & finish.
Changes apply to all future time cards for employees assigned to the policy. Existing time cards are not affected.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Time Policy configuration is available on the Raken web app only.
Step 1: Navigate to Policies
Log into the Raken web app. Click Company in the left navigation, then click Time > Policies.
Step 2: Open the Policy Editor
Click Edit policy on an existing policy. To create a new one, click + New policy in the top right corner.
Step 3: Configure Settings
Enter a Policy name. Toggle Set as default if this policy should be automatically assigned to all new employees.
Under Time tracking, choose how employees log their time — multiple options can be enabled simultaneously:
Supervisor entries (simple) — supervisors enter total hours only
Supervisor entries (detailed) — supervisors must enter start and end times
Kiosk mode — employees clock in and out from a shared device
Employee time clock — employees clock in and out on their own devices
Under Verification (Time Clock add-on required), enable Photo ID, clock in questions, and/or clock out questions as needed.
Under Geofencing (Time Clock add-on required), configure location-based rules — flag off-site punches, send reminders, or block clock-ins outside the project radius.
Under Production, enable cost code requirements and employee cost code selection for Time Clock and Kiosk users.
Click Next: Overtime rules.
Step 4: Configure Overtime Rules
Select a pre-built template or configure custom daily and weekly overtime thresholds. Available templates: Standard 40, Standard 8/40, Standard 4/10, California, California 4/10, Exempt.
Overtime is calculated server-side automatically every time a time card is created or edited.
Click Next: Premiums.
Step 5: Configure Premiums (Performance Plan required)
Premium rules automatically assign pay types for hours worked on specific days or shifts — no manual overrides needed. Three types are available:
Weekend — premium pay for work on defined weekend days
Early start / Late finish — premium pay for shift windows outside standard hours
Holiday — premium pay for work on defined company holidays
Toggle each premium type on and configure the applicable rules. If your account does not have the Performance Plan, this section is read-only.
Click Next: Breaks.
Step 6: Configure Breaks
Default break types are pre-loaded: a 10-minute paid rest break and a 30-minute unpaid meal break. Toggle each on or off. Click the edit (pencil) icon to adjust default duration, minimum duration, or compensation.
Click Next: Rounding.
Step 7: Configure Rounding
Select the rounding method and interval that matches your timekeeping practices. Methods: nearest interval, round up, round down, or employee-favorable. Intervals: 5, 6, 10, 15, or 30 minutes. Optionally enable rounding for break times.
Click Next: Pay types.
Step 8: Configure Pay Types
Toggle pay types on or off. Defaults include RT, OT, DT, Drive Time, Hazard Pay, and NY OT. Click + Add pay type to create a custom pay type. At least two pay types must remain active at all times.
Click Next: Shifts.
Step 9: Configure Shifts
Click + Add shift to create named shift windows (e.g., Day shift, Night shift). Shifts are optional — skip if not applicable.
Click Next: Employees.
Step 10: Assign Employees
Check the box next to each employee who should follow this policy. Use the Assigned, Active, and Search filters to find employees quickly. All employees must be assigned to at least one policy.
Step 11: Save
Click Save & finish. The policy is now active — all future time cards for assigned employees will follow these rules.
Troubleshooting & FAQ
Do policy changes apply to existing time cards?
No. Changes apply to time cards created after the change is saved. Existing time cards follow the rules that were active when they were created.
Can I have more than one Time Policy?
Yes. Create multiple policies for different employee groups — for example, separate policies for union crews and salaried staff, or for employees in different states. Each employee must be assigned to at least one policy.
What's the difference between simple and detailed supervisor entries?
Simple entries require only total hours worked. Detailed entries require start and end times. Detailed is recommended for more accurate overtime calculations.
Can I override a policy for a specific project?
Yes. Project-level exceptions let you apply a different Time Policy to a specific project, overriding the employee's default policy for that project only. See Enabling and Managing Project-Level Time Policy Exceptions.
What if an employee isn't assigned to a policy?
All employees must be assigned to at least one policy. If only one policy exists, all employees are assigned automatically. If you create additional policies, manually assign employees to the correct one.
Technical Specifications
Compatibility: Web app only
Offline Capability: No — requires an active connection
Plan Required: All plans for core settings; Premiums and Holidays require the Performance Plan
Add-on Required: Time Clock add-on for Verification and Geofencing
Role Required: Account Administrator only
Considerations
Only Account Administrators can create and edit Time Policies.
Policy changes apply to future time cards only — existing time cards are not retroactively updated.
All employees must be assigned to at least one policy — use the Employees section to manage assignments.
Enabling Set as default automatically assigns the policy to all new employees added to the account.
At least two pay types must remain active at all times per policy.
Verification and Geofencing require the Time Clock add-on.
Premiums (Weekend, Shift, Holiday) and Holidays require the Performance Plan.
The Require cost codes and Allow employees to select cost codes settings apply to Time Clock and Kiosk users only.
Overtime is recalculated server-side automatically every time a time card is created or edited.
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More Questions?
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