Timesheets can be a real chore

I make up time sheets as well, they're a pain in the a**e. It's obvious what I've been doing all day so why have to write it down? Presumably, any management who think I'm slacking can check the computer system.
In one job I had there was a timesheet that had a 'comments' section which of course I couldn't resist. I used to love writing totally unrelated things in it like "Rock and Roll will never die" or "What's the samaritans phone number?" Okay, probably not that funny and a bit juvenile but it p****d off the nerdy manager.

I have to do two timesheets, one for the agency so that I get paid who then even when I have submitted it send me a text to remind me and then another one for the company I am working for!

*when I undertake work for a client
*MikeP(ompous)
You do not undertake work for anybody because you are permanently on this site!

What is the problem with charging fees based on time? All my clients are perfectly happy with it. I don't need any fancy software, I simply record my time and expenses, and send a fee note when the work is completed.

"Any professional who charges by the hour is setting himself up as an employee who makes his "employer" take all the risks. What utter cowardice and apalling customer service! Charging by the hour is not behaving as a grown-up business person and all who do so should be exposed."

This is nonsense.

When I undertake work for a client, I don't know, and nor do they, how long it will take, it could be an hour or so on a computer, or it could involve weeks of work and international travel, depending on what the investigation reveals.

I not only entirely agree with you about time sheets; I even wrote a book about how destructive they are to client relationships. An employee is paid by the hour and a professional charges a fee for what the service or product is worth. Any professional who charges by the hour is setting himself up as an employee who makes his "employer" take all the risks. What utter cowardice and apalling customer service! Charging by the hour is not behaving as a grown-up business person and all who do so should be exposed.

One of the great things about the web - you can scour around and read what people say then make your own mind about stuff. That includes timesheet software too. Personally, I've been subjected to a few garbage packages in the past and I've always found the custom built applications are the easiest for end users. Off the shelf stuff is usually either too complicated or can't be customised enough.

@Bill34
Looking for enterprise timesheet software at the moment. The VERY obvious plugging of Dovico on fake blogs and comments like this has meant Dovico is off my list. If the product needs this kind of underhand promotion I don't want it.

Unless everyone benefits from using timesheet software and networking internal data management, it is a waste of time and money. For the fee-earners is has to be user-friendly, for the admin team it has to reduce their headache caused by the collation and recording of all the data required by their billing department and management team, who in turn should see faster and more accurate client billing and better cost control and reporting.
The overall benefit, which is crucial now we are facing another recession, is greater profitability. A stronger business benefits everyone, even those 'slackers' who fear having their productivity tracked. Accurate real-time data, if acted upon, can save a business but ultimately timesheet software is only a tool and it is its overall adoption that will determine its usefulness. Coretime is a module that seems to have the right balance for most professionals. www.onesys.co.uk

I tried many timesheet software programs for my small company (30 employees) but the best one for ease of use and simply and quick automated reporting, was a product called dovico timesheet. I think the web site is www.dovico.com

All organisations need information on project progress (metrics in management-speak). Internally, simple, verbal reports would usually suffice (e.g. how's work on component x coming along?) because you build working relationships with those you work with day to day/know their level of expertise etc. so you can gauge as humans can so well, the accuracy/validity of their reports.

But in most organisations the data has to be supplied to "remote" un-trusting third parties such as higher management/clients/sub-contractors/standards bodies/the govt. etc.

Now say you are a client and you don't know me or the company very well and you ask "How is progress on my widget coming along?" - which response has more validity/weight with you:

1. Just fine.
2. We keep metrics on all our projects, and your widget is on track - take a look at this graph.

Now, most people, because they are "lazy" will prefer 2, even if it is based on fictional data. And everyone knows (well most managers will have at least a vague inkling) that those colorful graphs *are* be based on fictional information.

So why do people still require timesheets? Because it absolves them of responsibility. They don't want to carry the can, plain and simple.

How does this absolve responsibility? Take this simple exchange:

Client: My project's overrun - you said it was on track!
Manager: Well, we keep metrics of progress according to Good Management Standard X and everything said we were on target.
Employee: Er... actually Boss, we were all faking our timesheets to fit the plan.
Manager: You're all fired - how can I do my job if you're all lying to me!

Simplistic, but played out every day across the world.

So, timesheets exist solely move responsibility for project *failure* (that should rightfully be largely the managers') onto the shoulders of "the workers" because managers are invariably underpaid, overworked (i.e. their managers are as bad as they are), incompetent and lazy.

Timesheets are a nonsense to give administrators the illusion they are in control. The reality is that the staff invent credible work to fill the day and so use things like 'admin' for all gaps. Every task has a code and therefore the process is incredibly time consuming and the data of dubious value. I hate it.

We use Tempora which is web based. Our FD likes it because he claims it shows him how much profit we make from each client. The web site (www.temporasoftware.com) is uninspiring but the product is OK and doesn't need you to enter any codes. It's not free but boss thinks it's good value.