GPS & Geofencing
Use GPS coordinates and geofencing to verify that workers are clocking in from the correct location.
What GPS Tracking Does
Location verification for every clock-in and clock-out.
TempClock can capture a worker's GPS coordinates at the moment they clock in or out. This gives you a verifiable record of where each time entry was made — not just when.
Combined with geofencing, you can define a virtual boundary around each work site and control what happens when a worker clocks in from outside that boundary. This is especially useful for agencies managing multiple locations or sites where attendance fraud is a concern.
Latitude and longitude coordinates from the device at clock-in/out
At the exact moment a worker confirms their clock-in or clock-out
A virtual radius around a location — clock-ins are checked against it
No — GPS is optional and can be enabled per location
GPS tracking works on any device with location services — tablets, phones, and laptops with GPS or Wi-Fi-based positioning.
How It Works
The technical flow from clock-in to stored coordinates.
When a worker taps Clock In or Clock Out at the kiosk, TempClock requests the device's location using the browser's built-in Geolocation API. The coordinates are then attached to the time entry and sent to the server along with the clock-in data.
GPS capture is non-blocking by default. If the device cannot obtain GPS coordinates (e.g. location services are disabled, the device has no GPS hardware, or the user denies permission), the clock-in still proceeds normally — it is simply recorded without GPS data.
GPS is a verification tool, not a barrier. Workers should never be unable to clock in because of a GPS issue — unless you have explicitly enabled Strict geofence mode.
Configuring Location GPS
How to set up GPS coordinates and geofencing for a location.
Before you start
- Admin or manager access to the manage portal
- The latitude and longitude of your work site (use Google Maps to find these)
- A geofence radius in metres that covers your site area
GPS settings are configured per location from the manage portal. Navigate to Locations > select location > GPS Settings to access the configuration panel.
Open the location GPS settings
From the manage portal, go to Locations, select the location you want to configure, then click the GPS Settings tab.
Enter latitude and longitude
Enter the latitude and longitude of the centre of your work site. You can find these coordinates by right-clicking your site on Google Maps and selecting "What's here?" or by searching for the address.
Coordinates should be entered as decimal numbers, e.g. 51.5074
for latitude and -0.1278 for longitude.
Set the geofence radius
Enter the geofence radius in metres. This defines the virtual boundary around the centre point. A clock-in is considered "on site" if the worker's GPS coordinates fall within this radius.
Common values: 100m for a single building, 250m for a construction site, 500m for a large campus or industrial estate.
Choose a geofence mode
Select how strictly the geofence should be enforced. See the Geofence Modes section below for a detailed explanation of each option.
Save and test
Click Save to apply the settings. We recommend testing by performing a clock-in from the location to verify that GPS data is being captured correctly and the geofence is working as expected.
GPS Coordinates
Geofence
To quickly find your site's coordinates, open Google Maps, right-click on your location, and the coordinates will appear at the top of the context menu. You can click them to copy.
Geofence Modes Explained
Three levels of enforcement to suit your requirements.
When you configure a geofence for a location, you choose one of three modes that determine how the system responds when a worker clocks in from outside the defined radius.
Disabled
No enforcementGPS coordinates are still captured and stored with each time entry, but no geofence check is performed. Clock-ins always proceed regardless of the worker's location. Use this mode when you want to collect GPS data for reporting without imposing any restrictions.
Warning
Flag but allowGPS coordinates are captured and compared against the geofence radius. If the worker is outside the boundary, the time entry is flagged for review, but the clock-in is still allowed to proceed. This is the recommended starting mode — it gives you visibility without disrupting workers.
Strict
Block if outsideGPS coordinates are captured and compared against the geofence radius. If the worker is outside the boundary, the clock-in is blocked and an error message is displayed on the kiosk. The worker must be physically within the geofence to clock in. Use this mode only when location compliance is critical.
We recommend starting with Warning mode. It lets you see how GPS data looks across your workforce before deciding whether to enforce strictly. You can switch to Strict at any time.
In Strict mode, if GPS is unavailable (e.g. location services off), the clock-in will also be blocked because the system cannot verify the worker's location. Make sure your kiosk devices have reliable GPS before enabling Strict.
Viewing GPS Data on Timesheets
Where GPS information appears and what the badges mean.
When GPS data has been captured, it appears on individual timesheet entries in the manage portal. Each entry that includes GPS shows a map pin icon and a location status badge indicating whether the worker was on site or off site at the time of clocking in.
James Davies
Clock in — 07:58 AM
Sarah Mitchell
Clock in — 08:03 AM
Ryan Kelly
Clock in — 08:15 AM
Laura Brown
Clock in — 08:22 AM
The GPS badges make it easy to scan a timesheet and identify entries that may need attention. You can also filter timesheets to show only off-site entries by using the GPS Status filter in the timesheets view.
Worker was within the geofence radius when they clocked in
Worker was X metres outside the geofence radius — flagged for review
GPS data was not available for this entry (permissions denied, no hardware, etc.)
Click the pin icon on any entry to view exact coordinates on a map
Off-site entries are not necessarily a problem. Workers may clock in from a car park, a nearby meeting point, or an adjacent building. Use the distance to make a judgement call.
Troubleshooting GPS Issues
Common issues and how to resolve them.
GPS relies on the device hardware and browser permissions. Here are the most common issues and how to address them.
GPS Not Available
The device does not have GPS hardware, or location services are switched off at the operating system level.
Fix: Enable location services in the device settings (Settings > Privacy > Location Services on iOS, or Settings > Location on Android). Desktop computers without GPS will use Wi-Fi-based positioning if available.
Browser Permission Denied
The browser has blocked the kiosk page from accessing location. This usually happens when a user clicks "Deny" on the browser location prompt.
Fix: In the browser settings, navigate to Site Settings > Location and allow location access for the kiosk URL. On Chrome, click the padlock icon in the address bar and set Location to "Allow".
Low Accuracy / Drifting Location
The GPS coordinates are inaccurate, showing the worker several hundred metres from their actual position. This often happens indoors or in areas with poor satellite reception.
Fix: Position the kiosk device near a window or in an area with better signal. Alternatively, increase the geofence radius to account for GPS drift. Typical indoor accuracy is 20–50 metres; outdoor accuracy is usually within 5–10 metres.
Workers Can Still Clock In Without GPS
In Disabled and Warning modes, the clock-in always proceeds even if GPS is not available. The entry is simply recorded without location data.
Note: Only Strict mode blocks clock-ins when GPS is unavailable. If you see many entries without GPS data, check that the kiosk device has location services enabled and that browser permissions are granted.
For the most reliable GPS readings, use a tablet with built-in GPS (such as an iPad or Android tablet) rather than a desktop computer. Tablets have dedicated GPS hardware and produce much more accurate coordinates.
Privacy & Data Handling
How TempClock handles GPS data responsibly.
TempClock takes worker privacy seriously. GPS data collection is designed to be transparent, minimal, and respectful of your workers' privacy.
We recommend informing your workers that GPS capture is enabled at the kiosk before they first use it. This builds trust and avoids any surprises. Many organisations include a brief mention in their onboarding materials or post a notice near the kiosk.
GPS data is never shared with third parties. It is used solely for location verification within your TempClock account.
If your organisation has specific data protection requirements (e.g. GDPR), consult your data protection officer before enabling GPS capture. TempClock provides data export and deletion tools to support compliance.
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