How to Use PST-Timesheet for Accurate Payroll and Reporting

PST-Timesheet FAQs: Troubleshooting Common Timezone & Logging Issues

Below are concise, actionable answers to the most common problems users encounter with PST-Timesheet, organized by issue and solution.

1. Why are my timestamps showing the wrong timezone?

• Cause: Device or browser timezone differs from PST or the app is set to automatic UTC conversion.
• Fix:
  1. Confirm your device/system timezone is set to Pacific Time (PST/PDT) in OS settings.
  2. In the PST-Timesheet app, open settings → Timezone and select Pacific Time (UTC−08:00 / UTC−07:00 DST).
  3. Refresh the page or re-open the app. If issues persist, clear browser cache or restart the app.

2. Entries shift an hour during daylight saving time (DST)

• Cause: App or server not handling DST transitions correctly.
• Fix:
  1. Ensure PST-Timesheet is set to observe DST (Pacific Timezone with DST enabled).
  2. For historical entries, enable “store timestamps in UTC” (if available) and display in PST — this preserves absolute times across DST changes.
  3. If your organization requires non-DST times, switch to a fixed offset (e.g., UTC−08:00) and document the change.

3. Time rounding or unexpected duration totals

• Cause: Rounding rules or overlapping entries.
• Fix:
  1. Check rounding settings (e.g., round to nearest ⁄₁₅ minutes) in Timesheet → Settings.
  2. Inspect for overlapping or duplicate clock-ins; merge or delete incorrect entries.
  3. Recalculate totals using the app’s “recompute” or export to CSV and verify calculations in a spreadsheet.

4. Clock-in/clock-out not recording accurately on mobile

• Cause: App background restrictions, offline mode, or poor network.
• Fix:
  1. Allow the app to run in background and enable location/time permissions.
  2. When offline, use manual entry with precise timestamps; the app should sync when online.
  3. Update the mobile app to the latest version and check for OS-level battery optimizations that may suspend the app.

5. Submitted timesheet shows different totals than payroll

• Cause: Different timezones between timesheet and payroll system, rounding, or payroll cutoffs.
• Fix:
  1. Confirm payroll system timezone and alignment with PST-Timesheet.
  2. Verify pay period start/end times and timezone handling for cutoffs.
  3. Export the timesheet with timezone-aware timestamps (UTC + display PST) and share with payroll for reconciliation.

6. Import/export timezone mismatches in CSV/Excel

• Cause: CSV lacks timezone metadata or uses local timestamps.
• Fix:
  1. Export using ISO 8601 timestamps with timezone (e.g., 2026-02-05T09:00:00-08:00).
  2. When importing, choose the column timezone or convert timestamps to UTC before import.
  3. If your spreadsheet app shows different times, adjust the cell format or apply timezone conversion formulas.

7. Why do team members in other timezones see different totals?

• Cause: Display vs. stored timezone inconsistency.
• Fix:
  1. Store timestamps in UTC; display in each user’s preferred timezone (recommended).
  2. For consistent reporting, run reports with a fixed timezone setting (e.g., PST) so everyone sees the same totals.

8. Error: “Invalid timestamp” when entering manual times

• Cause: Incorrect format or unsupported timezone offset.
• Fix:
  1. Use the app’s accepted format (recommended: ISO 8601).
  2. Avoid ambiguous formats like MM/DD/YY without timezone.
  3. If using offsets, ensure they match ±HH:MM (e.g., -08:00).

9. How to audit time changes and edits?

• Steps:
  1. Open Timesheet → Audit Log or Activity History.
  2. Filter by user/date/change type to view edits, who made them, and timestamps (stored in UTC).
  3. Export audit logs for compliance reviews.

10. Persistent sync conflicts between devices

• Cause: Concurrent edits or unsynced offline entries.
• Fix:
  1. Force a manual sync from the app and ensure network is stable.
  2. Resolve conflicts by choosing the authoritative entry (usually the latest or manager-approved).
  3. Educate users to avoid simultaneous edits across devices.

Quick checklist — When troubleshooting, run these first

• Confirm device and app timezone settings are Pacific Time.
• Check DST setting and whether timestamps are stored in UTC.
• Inspect rounding, overlaps, and offline entries.
• Export ISO 8601 timestamps for external systems.
• Use the audit log to trace edits.

If you want, I can convert this into a printable FAQ page or a CSV checklist for your team.