How Time Rounding Works

FabWise rounds shift-start and shift-end times to the nearest interval, so your time is calculated fairly and consistently.

Why it matters

Time rounding prevents disputes over a few seconds or minutes. If you start your shift at 7:58, did you start working or were you walking to your station? Rounding applies the same rule to everyone — no favorites, no guessing. It also keeps your time records clean and consistent.

How it works

Your account has a rounding interval — typically 15 minutes. FabWise rounds your clock times to the nearest interval using a midpoint rule.

The rule is simple: if you're closer to the earlier interval, your time rounds down; if you're closer to the next one, it rounds up. The midpoint is exactly half the interval.

With a 15-minute interval (midpoint = 7.5 minutes), the system looks at where you are relative to the nearest 15-minute marks:

You start your shift at	Nearest marks	Rounded to	Why
7:52	7:45 and 8:00	8:00	8 min past 7:45 (>7.5) — rounds up
7:53	7:45 and 8:00	8:00	8 min past 7:45 — rounds up
7:57	7:45 and 8:00	8:00	12 min past 7:45 — rounds up
8:03	8:00 and 8:15	8:00	3 min past 8:00 (<7.5) — rounds down
8:07	8:00 and 8:15	8:00	7 min past 8:00 (<7.5) — rounds down
8:08	8:00 and 8:15	8:15	8 min past 8:00 (>7.5) — rounds up

The same rule applies to shift-end. If your shift ends at 4:00 PM and you clock out at 4:07, your time rounds to 4:00. If you clock out at 4:08, it rounds to 4:15.

Over time, rounding averages out — sometimes in your favor, sometimes the employer's. That's the point: it's even-handed, applied the same way to everyone.

Where to find it

Your rounded times appear on your shift detail:

Kiosk / Workstation: Your shift card shows your actual clock time
Admin > Shifts > [shift detail]: Shows both scheduled and actual times. If the shift is approved, the "final" times are the rounded values used for pay.

Your admin sets the rounding interval at:
- Path: Admin > Settings > Scheduling > Time & Pay
- Options: 5, 6, 10, 15, or 30 minutes
- Who can change it: Account admins only

What you'll see

As a worker (Kiosk or Workstation)

You start your shift and see it begin. The rounding happens behind the scenes — you don't need to think about it. If you're within the rounding window of your scheduled time, you're considered on time. No questions asked.

As a supervisor (Admin > Shift Detail)

The Time Summary shows:
- Scheduled start/end — when the shift was supposed to happen
- Actual start/end — when the worker actually started and ended the shift (may show in amber if different from scheduled)
- Duration, Break, Net Hours — calculated from the rounded times

What to do

Workers: Just start your shift when you arrive. The system handles rounding automatically. You don't need to wait for the exact minute.

Supervisors: Review the Time Summary on flagged shifts. If a worker was flagged for being very late (beyond the rounding threshold), the actual time and scheduled time are both shown so you can make an informed decision.

Admins: Choose a rounding interval that matches your shop's workflow. 15 minutes is most common for fab shops. Smaller intervals (5-6 min) give more precision but may create more flags.

Common questions

Q: What if I always start 7 minutes early — am I losing time?
A: No. With 15-minute rounding, 7 minutes early rounds to your scheduled start. Start 8 minutes early and it rounds to the earlier interval, so you get credit. Over time it averages out.

Q: Can my employer round in a way that always takes time from me?
A: No. FabWise uses the standard midpoint rule, which rounds evenly — the same rule applies to shift-start and shift-end, early and late, so it averages out over time rather than favoring either side.

Q: What rounding interval should I use?
A: 15 minutes is the most common for manufacturing and fab shops. If your shifts start and end at precise times and minutes matter, consider 5 or 6 minutes.

[Why Was My Shift Flagged?](shift-review.md)
[Overtime](overtime.md)

Last updated: 2026-05-25