Geofencing is a location-based feature that creates a virtual circular boundary around your work sites. When enabled, employees can only successfully clock in, clock out, or end breaks when they are physically present within the configured radius of the work site location.

Geofencing serves two key purposes:

• Prevents unauthorised clock-ins: Employees cannot clock in from remote locations, ensuring attendance accuracy and preventing wage theft.
• Provides visibility: Managers can see location data for all clock entries and review compliance through Timesheet Management.

Geofencing can be configured on a work site-by-work site basis and will apply to all employees assigned to that work site.

When enabled, Geofence applies to employees clocking in and out on their mobile devices via the Employment Hero Work app on iOS and Android.

Geofence WILL apply to:

• Clocking in via the EH Work mobile app (iOS and Android)
• Clocking out via the EH Work mobile app (iOS and Android)
• Ending breaks via the EH Work mobile app (iOS and Android)
• Clocking in/out via the EH Work mobile web browser

Geofence WILL NOT apply to:

• Clocking in/out on the Employment Hero web dashboard on a computer
• Manual timesheet entries created by managers
• Clock entries imported from other systems
• Clocking in/out via kiosk or time clock devices (if available)

Enabling Geofence requires a two-step process: first enabling the feature organisation-wide, then configuring it for individual work sites.

Step 1: Enable Geofence at the organisation level

Only users with Admin access can enable Geofence organisation-wide.

1. On the main menu, click Settings.
2. On the submenu, click Clock In & Out.
   
3. Locate the Work site geofencing section.
4. Toggle the Work site geofencing switch to ON.
5. (Optional) Configure the Clocking outside geofence setting to determine how your organisation handles employee clock-outs outside the geofence:
   • Prevent employees from clocking out: Employees cannot clock out when outside the geofence boundary. They must return to the work site to complete their shift.
   • Enable clock out & add timesheet warning: Employees can clock out outside the geofence, but the entry is flagged with a warning that appears in Timesheet Management for manager review.

Step 2: Configure Geofence for a work site

Once Geofence is enabled organisation-wide, work site managers with Work Sites & Positions module permission can configure it for individual work sites.

1. On the main menu, click Settings.
2. On the submenu, click Worksites & Positions.
3. Find the work site where you want to enable Geofence and click its three dots (...) button, then select Edit.
   

4. Locate the Enable clocking radius geo fence section on the Edit details page.

   Tip for challenging locations

   For underground work sites or areas with poor GPS signal (such as dense urban areas), consider setting a larger radius (200m or more) to account for GPS signal variations.

5. Toggle the Enable clocking radius geo fence switch to ON.
   
6. Set the clocking radius using one of two methods:
   • Text input: Enter a value between 50m and 500m. The default is 200m.
   • Interactive map: Use the slider on the map to adjust the radius. The circular boundary updates in real-time as you adjust the slider.
7. Review the circular boundary preview on the map to ensure it covers the intended work site area.
8. Click Save to apply the Geofence configuration.

Geofence constraints

• Radius range: Minimum 50m, maximum 500m
• Default radius: 200m when first enabled
• Boundary shape: Circular
• Measurement method: Direct straight-line distance (as the crow flies) from employee to work site centre
• Location verification: Performed when employees attempt to clock in, clock out, or end breaks

When an employee is within the Geofence boundary and attempts to clock in, clock out, or end a break:

• The system automatically verifies their location in the background
• The clock action proceeds normally with no additional steps
• Location data is recorded with the clock entry for compliance purposes

When an employee attempts to clock in, clock out, or end a break while outside the Geofence boundary:

• The system detects they are outside the work site boundary
• The clock button becomes disabled with the message: "You're outside the Work Site"
• They see an interactive map showing:
  • Their current location (marked with a red dot)
  • The work site Geofence boundary (shown as a purple dashed circle)
  • Their distance from the work site (e.g., "150m from work site")
  • Estimated walk time to reach the boundary
• They see guidance text: "Move into the Work Site clocking radius to successfully clock in"
• A Retry button allows them to attempt again once they move closer

Example: An employee attempts to clock in 150 metres away from their work site and sees this screen:

For clock in, location data is required. If the system cannot determine the employee's location:

• The system attempts to use GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell tower data
• If location cannot be confirmed, the employee cannot proceed with clocking in
• The employee must move to an area with better location signal or contact their manager for assistance

For clock out, the system is more lenient. If the system cannot determine the employee's location:

• The system attempts to use GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell tower data
• If location cannot be confirmed within 5 seconds, the employee is allowed to proceed with clocking out
• The entry is flagged as "Manual Review Required" and appears in Timesheet Management
• Managers can review and approve/reject the entry based on other evidence

Employment Hero performs background location tracking while the EH Work app is open on an employee's device. This background tracking refreshes every few seconds to support real-time location verification when they attempt to clock in, clock out, or end a break.

However, we do not store continuous location history or track employees outside of active clocking actions. Location data is only recorded when employees explicitly attempt to clock in, clock out, or end a break. We do not access location information at any other time or store it throughout the shift beyond what is necessary for that specific clock action.

Location accuracy depends on multiple factors including GPS signal strength, Wi-Fi availability, and cellular network coverage. Accuracy can vary from 5m to 50m in good conditions, but may be much lower in areas with poor signal.

If your work site has poor GPS reception, consider:

• Setting a larger Geofence radius (200m+) to account for GPS variance
• Ensuring employees are as close to the work site location as possible when clocking

Yes. In Timesheet Management, clock entries made outside the Geofence are marked with visual indicators:

• An information icon appears when an employee clocked out outside the Geofence
• The mobile location icon displays in red if the entry occurred outside the Geofence
• The worksite/position icon also displays in red for out-of-Geofence entries
• Entries flagged as "Manual Review Required" indicate location data was unavailable

Click on a specific clock entry to view detailed location information including the employee's coordinates and whether they were within or outside the Geofence boundary.

Distance is measured as a direct straight-line distance (also called "as the crow flies") from the employee's location to the work site centre. It does not account for walking distance, driving distance, or terrain obstacles.

The minimum radius is 50m and the maximum is 500m.

We chose 50m as the minimum because GPS accuracy can vary significantly. Anything smaller could result in false positives where employees are actually at work but get blocked due to GPS inaccuracy. A 200m default radius provides a good balance between security and practical usability.

If your work site has persistently poor GPS reception, Geofencing may cause employees to be repeatedly blocked from clocking in, even when physically present.

Options:

• Set a larger Geofence radius (250m-500m) to account for GPS inaccuracy
• Choose "Enable clock out & add timesheet warning" mode at the organisation level, which allows clocking but flags entries for manager review instead of blocking them

Yes. When Geofencing is enabled for a work site, employees must be within the Geofence boundary to clock in, clock out, and end breaks. They cannot start or end breaks outside the boundary.

If Geofence is set to "Prevent employees from clocking out," they will be blocked from clocking out if they leave the work site. They have several options:

• Return to the work site and clock out, then amend their timesheet to reflect the correct clock out time (if permitted)
• Do nothing - the shift will automatically close after 23 hours and use the scheduled shift end time

If your organisation uses "Enable clock out & add timesheet warning" mode, they can clock out anywhere but the entry will be flagged for manager review.

Geofence is location-specific. If an employee is assigned to work site A but is actually working at work site B, they will be blocked from clocking in at work site B unless:

• They are reassigned to work site B, or
• A manager manually creates a clock entry for them

This is by design - Geofence ensures employees only clock in for shifts at their assigned locations.