Payroll Help

Your Payroll Software questions answered here

Employee Geotagged Time Punches

In this article:

Background
Geotagging is available for Time Punch Hourly employees in the My Patriot mobile app. Ensure you have the latest version of the app downloaded on your phone download on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

If your employer has enabled geotagging with a “required” setting you will ONLY be able to use the mobile app for time punches. You can view your time card in the web version of the portal, but this will be “display only” and time punches will be disabled.

How to Enable Geotagging in the Mobile App

You will need to allow location tracking on your phone and grant location data consent for employers to view your geotagged time punch before Geotagging is enabled for your timecard. Here’s how:

  1. Allow Location Services for the mobile app. Use your phone settings to allow location services for My Patriot while using the app.
    • If you have an Iphone toggle the “Precise location” to ensure accuracy.
  2. Grant location data consent. Location data consent allows us to display your time punched geotagged locations to your employer.
    • The screen below will appear when geotagging has been enabled for your timecards. Answer “Yes” to the question:
      Do you give your permission to allow your employer to view your location when you punch in and out for work?
    • Grant by going to Profile > App Settings > Location. Toggle “Enable Location Tracking” on. This setting is granting data consent for your employer to view your time stamped location data.

How to View Geotagged Time Punches

You can view the geotagged time punches by following the steps:

  1. Log in to the web version of the employee portal (www.mypatriot.com or www.payrolltime.com
    • Geotagged time punch display is not available in the My Patriot app at this time.
  2. Go to Time Cards on the left navigation
  3. Select desired the time card pay period.
  4. Click “View Timecard”
  5. Select the time punch of the location you want to view and click the “pin” beside it
    • A map overview will display.
  6. In the map view, you will see the exact location where the you clocked in or out.
  7. Hover over the pins on the map to view additional details, such as:
    • Date and time of the punch
    • GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude)
    • Precision (e.g., 50 feet)
  8. Use the map toggle to switch between “Map” and “Satellite” views for more context.
  9. If the payroll admin or manager edits a geotagged time entry, the pin on the map will visually update to orange, signaling the change.
    • For transparency and record-keeping, both the original and edited time and location will be visible on the map.

Employee FAQ’s About Geotagging

Geotagging is the use of GPS technology to capture the geographic location where an employee clocks in and out.

The app records location data only when clocking in or out. The app does not store or track real-time movement, ensuring privacy outside of clock-in and clock-out actions.

You’ll need to speak with your employer or HR department. Clarify whether geotagging is optional, recommended, or mandatory for your role. Employers will be able to require you use geotagging with the mobile app, and dismantle time entry in the web portal.

If geotagging is a condition of employment for your role, refusing permissions could lead to performance issues or affect your ability to perform required duties. Some roles, particularly those involving remote or fieldwork, may require geotagging to track work hours, verify locations, or meet operational needs.

You will need to enable location services for the mobile app on your phone and also give location data consent for your employer to view your location.

There may be a few reasons for this:

  • You aren’t an employee who clocks in with time punches. Geotagging is only available for time-punch  employees.
  • You haven’t enabled location tracking for the mobile app or given permissions. Check your phone’s location settings and your permission settings in the app under Profile > App Settings > Location. Toggle “Enable Location Tracking” on.
  • You don’t have a recent version of the mobile app. Geotagging requires the version of 1.4.4 or later.
  • You didn’t clock in/out using the mobile app. Geotagging is only available in the mobile app and not in the web portal.

You can disable data consent location tracking in the mobile app by going to Profile > App Settings > Location. Toggle “Enable Location Tracking” off.

Removing location tracking is only applicable on future time punches, but will not remove your employers view of the already captured data.

If your employer has required you use geotagging, time entry on the web portal may be dismantled.

The My Patriot app is designed to be battery-friendly. It only accesses data when the app is open and only uses GPS location when an employee punches in or out. It does not track location when running in the background. Because of this, the app has no greater impact on battery life than any other app that uses data occasionally.

Location data is encrypted and securely stored, following industry best practices to protect sensitive information.





Your feedback will not receive a reply. If you have a specific issue, please reach out to our support team here.