time-card

The employee punches his time-card at the start of his shift.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A record of working hours: A "time-card" is a card used to record the number of hours an employee has worked, typically inserted into a time clock that stamps the arrival and departure times.
   • A device for tracking attendance: In some contexts, "time-card" refers to the physical or digital record itself, used by employers to monitor employee attendance and calculate wages.

Usage Examples

• (Insert the card into the time clock to record your start time.)
• (Checked the records of working hours.)
• (The physical card used for tracking work hours.)

Advanced Usage

• "to clock in/out on a time-card": to record the beginning or end of a work shift using a time-card.
  • All employees must clock in on their time-card before starting their shift. (Use the time-card to mark arrival.)
• "time-card fraud": the act of falsifying records on a time-card to claim pay for hours not actually worked.
  • The company implemented a new system to prevent time-card fraud. (Stop dishonest reporting of work hours.)

Variants and Related Words

• Time clock (n): a machine that stamps or records the time on a time-card.
  • The time clock was broken, so employees had to write their hours manually. (The device that processes time-cards.)
• Time sheet (n): a similar record of working hours, often a paper form or digital log.
  • He filled out his time sheet at the end of the week to submit for payroll. (A document for recording work hours.)

Synonyms

• Attendance card: a card used to record presence at work.
• Punch card: a card that is physically stamped or punched by a time clock.

Related Idioms

• Punch the clock: to record one's arrival or departure at work using a time-card or time clock.
  • She hates her job, but she still punches the clock every morning. (She arrives and leaves work on time, following the schedule.)