Shift Intents
When you start or end your shift outside the normal window, FabWise asks a quick question to capture your intent. Your answer determines which time is used for pay.
Why it matters
Old time systems use rounding to guess what you meant. You clock in 12 minutes early — did you start working, or did you grab coffee and wait? The system can't know, so it rounds and hopes it averages out.
FabWise doesn't guess. It asks. One quick question, two seconds, and the system knows exactly what you intended. Your supervisor sees your scheduled time, your actual clock time, AND your declared intent — the full picture.
How it works
Every shift has a rounding window — a few minutes on either side of your scheduled start or end time. This is based on your account's rounding interval (typically 15 minutes, so the window is about 7.5 minutes each way).
When you're within the window
No question. You're on time. FabWise records your clock time and rounds it normally. This is the most common case — you arrive at 7:57 for an 8:00 shift, and the system treats it as on time.
When you're outside the window
FabWise asks a quick question. Your answer determines which time is used.
Starting your shift early
You arrive before the rounding window. The kiosk asks:
| Option | What it means | Time used |
|---|---|---|
| "Start working now" | You're beginning work early — this may count as overtime | Your actual clock time |
| "Waiting for my shift" | You're here early but not starting yet | Your scheduled start time |
Starting your shift late
You arrive after the rounding window. The kiosk asks:
| Option | What it means | Time used |
|---|---|---|
| "Just arriving" | You're getting here now | Your actual clock time |
| "Forgot to start shift" | You were already here working but forgot to start your shift earlier | Your scheduled start time |
Ending your shift early
You're leaving before the rounding window. No question asked — there's only one valid answer. FabWise records that you're leaving early and uses your actual clock time.
Ending your shift late
You're still here after the rounding window. The kiosk asks:
| Option | What it means | Time used |
|---|---|---|
| "Worked overtime" | You stayed to finish work | Your actual clock time |
| "Just ending late" | You finished on time but didn't end your shift earlier | Your scheduled end time |
Where to find it
- Kiosk: prompts appear automatically when starting or ending your shift outside the rounding window
- Workstation: same prompts on the shift dashboard
- Admin > Shift Detail: the supervisor sees the recorded intent alongside scheduled and actual times
What you'll see
At the kiosk (worker)
When a prompt is needed, you'll see a simple screen with two options. Tap one and you're done — it takes about two seconds. If you're within the rounding window, you won't see any prompt at all.
On the shift detail (supervisor)
The supervisor sees three pieces of information:
- Scheduled time — when the shift was supposed to start/end
- Actual time — when the worker actually clocked
- Intent — what the worker declared ("working now," "just arriving," "worked overtime," etc.)
All three together tell the complete story. A worker who says "forgot to start shift" at 8:25 is claiming they were working since 8:00. The supervisor can verify that claim and approve or investigate.
What to do
Workers: Answer honestly. The system captures your scheduled time and actual clock time regardless of what you choose. Your intent just determines which time is used for pay calculation. If you say "worked overtime" but your supervisor knows you were chatting in the break room, they'll see the discrepancy.
Supervisors: When reviewing a flagged shift, check the intent alongside the times. A worker who consistently says "forgot to start shift" but arrives 30 minutes late every day is a pattern worth addressing — but that's a performance conversation, not something to block at the kiosk.
Common questions
Q: What if I pick the wrong option?
A: Tell your supervisor. They can see your actual clock time and adjust the shift during review. The intent is informational — the supervisor makes the final call.
Q: Why doesn't the kiosk ask me anything most days?
A: Because you're within the rounding window — you're on time. The system only asks when there's a meaningful difference between your clock time and your scheduled time.
Q: Can my employer use my intent answers against me?
A: Your intent is one data point among several. The supervisor sees scheduled time, actual time, and intent together. The performance view tracks patterns over time. A single unusual intent isn't a problem — a consistent pattern might warrant a conversation.
Q: Why does leaving early have no prompt?
A: There's only one valid answer when you're leaving before your shift ends — you're leaving early. The system doesn't ask questions with only one answer.
Q: What if I'm early because I want to start overtime but my supervisor didn't approve it?
A: You can still say "start working now." The shift will be flagged for review because of the overtime. Your supervisor sees that you chose to start early and decides whether to approve it.
Related
- [Start Shift](../kiosk/start-shift.md)
- [End Shift](../kiosk/end-shift.md)
- [Time Rounding](time-rounding.md)
- [Shift Review](shift-review.md)
Last updated: 2026-03-27