Bulk Importing Workers
Save time by importing multiple workers at once from a spreadsheet, instead of adding them one by one.
When to Use Bulk Import
Adding lots of workers at once
Bulk import is the fastest way to get workers into TempClock when you have a large number to add at once. It's especially useful when:
If you only need to add a handful of workers (say, fewer than five), it might be quicker to add them manually instead.
Before You Start
What you'll need
Before you start
- Access to the TempClock manage portal with admin permissions
- A spreadsheet application (Excel, Google Sheets, or similar) to edit the CSV template
- Worker details: names, employee IDs, contact info, roles, and hourly rates
Download the CSV Template
Get the pre-formatted spreadsheet
Go to Settings
In the manage portal sidebar, click Settings.
Click "Import Workers"
On the Settings page, find the Import Workers option. This opens the bulk import tool.
Download the CSV template
Click the Download CSV Template button. This will save a pre-formatted .csv file to your computer. The template already has the correct column headers so TempClock knows how to read your data.
Import Workers
Upload a CSV file to add multiple workers at once.
Drag and drop your CSV file here, or click to browse
Choose FileFill In the CSV Template
Add your worker data to the spreadsheet
Open the downloaded CSV template in your spreadsheet application. You'll see the following column headers in the first row:
Worker's full name (required)
Unique badge number (required)
Email address (optional)
Phone number (optional)
Job title or role (optional)
Pay rate in £ (optional)
Add one worker per row, filling in their details under the correct columns. Here is an example of what your completed spreadsheet might look like:
| name | employee_id | phone | job_role | hourly_rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Johnson | EMP-0042 | sarah@email.com | 07700 900123 | Picker/Packer | 11.44 |
| James Peters | EMP-0043 | james.p@email.com | 07700 900456 | Forklift Driver | 13.50 |
| Maria Lopez | EMP-0044 | maria.l@email.com | 07700 900789 | Warehouse Operative | 11.44 |
Do not rename or reorder the column headers in the first row. TempClock uses these exact headings to match your data to the correct fields. Just fill in the rows underneath.
If you're exporting from another system, you may need to rename the columns to match the TempClock template. The easiest approach is to copy and paste your data into the downloaded template.
Upload the CSV File
Send your completed spreadsheet to TempClock
Save your spreadsheet as CSV
In your spreadsheet application, save the file as CSV (Comma Separated Values). In Excel, go to File > Save As and choose CSV (Comma delimited) from the format dropdown. In Google Sheets, go to File > Download > Comma-separated values (.csv).
Go back to the Import Workers page
In TempClock, navigate to Settings > Import Workers if you're not already there.
Upload your CSV file
Either drag and drop your CSV file onto the upload area, or click Choose File and select your CSV from your computer.
Make sure you save as .csv format, not .xlsx or .xls. TempClock only accepts CSV files for import.
Review the Preview and Confirm
Check everything looks right before importing
After uploading, TempClock will show you a preview of the workers that will be imported. This is your chance to check that everything looks correct before committing.
Review the import preview
TempClock displays a table showing each worker that will be imported, along with their details. Check that:
- Names are correct and not jumbled up
- Employee IDs look right
- Hourly rates are showing the correct amounts
- The total number of workers matches what you expect
Import Preview
3 workers ready to importClick "Confirm Import"
If everything looks correct, click the Confirm Import button. TempClock will add all the workers to your system. They will appear in the Workers list with an Active status.
You'll see a success message telling you how many workers were imported.
Start with a small test batch first. Try importing 2–3 workers to make sure your CSV is formatted correctly, then import the rest once you're confident it works.
Common Errors and How to Fix Them
Troubleshooting import issues
If there are problems with your CSV file, TempClock will flag them in the preview screen. Here are the most common issues and how to resolve them:
Duplicate Employee ID
Two or more rows have the same Employee ID, or the ID already exists in your system. Every worker must have a unique Employee ID. Check your spreadsheet for duplicates, and make sure the IDs don't clash with workers you've already added.
Missing Name
One or more rows are missing a worker name. The name column is required for every row. Go back to your spreadsheet and fill in any blank name cells.
Missing Employee ID
One or more rows are missing an Employee ID. Every worker needs a unique badge number. Fill in any blank employee_id cells in your spreadsheet.
Invalid Hourly Rate
The hourly rate contains non-numeric characters. Make sure hourly rate values are plain numbers (e.g. 11.44) without currency symbols, commas, or extra spaces.
Wrong File Format
You uploaded an .xlsx or .xls file instead of a .csv file. Open your spreadsheet and re-save it as CSV (Comma Separated Values) format.
If you get errors, don't panic. Fix the issues in your spreadsheet, save the CSV again, and re-upload it. The preview will update to show you whether the problems have been resolved.
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