Time Policies are the foundation of time tracking in Raken. They define the rules that govern how every employee on your account logs, verifies, and gets paid for their time — from overtime calculations and break types to pay types, shifts, and premiums. Every time card follows the rules set in a policy, so getting this right before your team starts tracking time is essential.
Quick Answer
To find your Time Policies:
Log in to the Raken web app and click Company in the left navigation.
Click Time, then click Policies.
Click Edit policy on an existing policy, or + New policy to create one.
Only Account Administrators can create and edit Time Policies.
What Is a Time Policy?
A Time Policy is a set of rules that controls how time is captured and calculated for every employee assigned to it. Every Raken account has at least one policy. If only one policy exists, all employees are automatically assigned to it. Accounts with multiple policies — for example, one for union crews and one for salaried staff — assign employees to policies individually.
Every time card created in Raken follows the rules of the policy assigned to the employee who logged it. This includes how overtime is calculated, which breaks are tracked, and which pay types are available.
What Each Policy Section Controls
Settings
The Settings section defines how employees log their time and whether verification is required.
Time tracking — choose one or more entry methods:
Supervisor entries (simple) — supervisors enter total hours worked only
Supervisor entries (detailed) — supervisors must enter start and end times
Kiosk mode — employees clock in and out from a shared device on site
Employee time clock — employees clock in and out on their own devices
Multiple options can be enabled simultaneously within the same policy.
Verification (Time Clock add-on required)
Photo ID — requires a selfie at clock-in and clock-out; Raken's AI matches it against the employee's profile
Clock in questions — prompts employees with custom questions when clocking in
Clock out questions — prompts employees with custom questions when clocking out
Geofencing (Time Clock add-on required) — controls location-based rules: flag off-site punches, send reminders, or block clock-ins outside the project radius.
Production
Require supervisors to track production alongside time entries
Require cost codes on Time Clock and Kiosk entries
Allow employees to select their own cost codes when clocking in
Overtime Rules
Overtime rules determine how captured time is automatically categorized into pay types — Regular Time, Overtime, Double Time — based on daily hours, weekly hours, or consecutive days worked. Overtime is calculated server-side automatically every time a time card is created or edited.
Pre-built templates available: Standard 40, Standard 8/40, Standard 4/10, California, California 4/10, and Exempt. Custom rules are also supported.
Premiums (Performance Plan required)
Premium rules automatically assign pay types for hours worked on specific days or shifts — without requiring manual overrides. Three types are available:
Weekend — applies to work performed on defined weekend days
Shift — applies to specific shift windows (early starts, late finishes, night shifts)
Holiday — applies to work performed on defined public holidays
Breaks
Break settings define which break types are available and how they are tracked. Default breaks include a 10-minute paid rest break and a 30-minute unpaid meal break. Each break type has configurable default duration, minimum duration, and compensation (paid or unpaid).
Rounding
Rounding rules automatically adjust time card entries to match your company's timekeeping practices. Options include nearest interval, round up, round down, and employee-favorable rounding. Available intervals: 5, 6, 10, 15, or 30 minutes. Rounding can also be applied to break start and end times.
Pay Types
Pay types define the categories available when logging time. Defaults include RT, OT, DT, Drive Time, Hazard Pay, and NY OT. Custom pay types can be added. At least two pay types must be active at all times to support overtime rule calculations.
Shifts
Shifts associate time card entries with specific work periods — day shift, night shift, swing shift, etc. Once created, employees or supervisors can select the applicable shift when logging time.
Holidays (Performance Plan required)
The Holidays section lets you define company holidays within the policy. Holiday dates integrate directly with the Premiums section — when a Holiday premium rule is active, any time worked on a defined holiday is automatically assigned the holiday pay type.
Employees
The Employees section shows all employees in your organization. Use it to assign employees to the policy. All employees must be assigned to at least one policy at all times. Enabling Set as default in Settings automatically assigns all new employees to this policy.
Troubleshooting & FAQ
Can I have more than one Time Policy?
Yes. You can create multiple policies and assign different employees to each — useful when different groups have different overtime rules, break requirements, or pay structures.
Do Time Policy changes affect existing time cards?
No. Policy changes only apply to time cards created after the change is saved. Existing time cards are not retroactively updated.
What if an employee isn't assigned to any Time 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, you'll need to manually assign employees to the relevant one.
What's the difference between Overtime Rules and Premiums?
Overtime Rules automatically categorize total hours into RT, OT, or DT based on daily or weekly thresholds. Premiums automatically assign pay types for hours worked on specific days or shift windows — weekends, holidays, or night shifts. Both can be active on the same policy simultaneously.
Can Project Admins set up Time Policies?
No. Only Account Administrators can create and edit Time Policies.
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.
Time Policy changes apply to future time cards only — existing time cards are not retroactively updated.
Overtime is recalculated server-side automatically every time a time card is created or edited.
Premiums (Weekend, Shift, Holiday) and Holidays require the Performance Plan.
Verification (Photo ID, Clock questions) and Geofencing require the Time Clock add-on.
Holiday dates must be defined in the Holidays section before Holiday Premium rules will trigger.
At least two pay types must remain active per policy at all times.
Enabling Set as default automatically assigns all new employees added to the account to this policy.
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More Questions?
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