Online timesheets.

[SussexSeagull]

Had to explain to a 30 year old what a Microfilm machine was!

[barrydidit]

Who would you send a fax to? 1980? 😁

Being as i'm so youthful, I would never have sent a fax were it not for the Lloyds takeover of HBoS. Around 2009 a load of antiquated machines were hauled out of some storage facility somewhere and distributed around the offices. It was astonishing how many business processes were supported by documentation being faxed about the country. So, the last time I used one was 2012. I imagine they're still in use today.

[DaveB]

Who would you send a fax to? 1980? ��

I was still faxing timesheets in 2005...

[Pherlopolus]

I fill out an online form saying how many days I worked per day for the month, someone I haven't met approves it online and myco gets paid 7 working days later. lovely compared to the grief I had 20 years ago....

[northernladuk]

Just realised I haven't used a fax machine in about 4 years!

Who would you send a fax to? 1980? 😁

[SussexSeagull]

Just realised I haven't used a fax machine in about 4 years!

[DaveB]

That was evil

Did you invoice them for the waiting ?

It would have been, but everyone involved was so heartily sick of the whole thing they just went through the mnotions and approved it regardless.

There were contractors who had been there for years and who only ever showed up on a Friday to complete their timesheets. No-one knew what they did, or if they actually did anything at all. I'm convinced some of them had actually retired!

[northernladuk]

<Placeholder for PC's tale of woe>

[FatLazyContractor]

The worst one I've used was with a large Telecoms client a few years ago.

Fill in an online form (Client CO managed) and submit it.
Then take a screen shot of the submitted form.
Print it.
Get it signed by someone I dont report to and who has no budget responsibility and doesnt know what I do.
Scan it.
Send it to someone else (200 miles away and who has no idea what I have or have not done).
Get email approval back.
Attatch it to invoice and send to agency.
Get paid.

That was evil

Did you invoice them for the waiting ?

[FatLazyContractor]

Current agency uses Online timesheets on their portal (Self-billing). All I do is fill in the number of hours worked per day and submit it. It usually gets approved in the next hour or so (good manager ).

Worst was - print a form, fill things in with a pen, sign it, scan it and email it to the agency

Lucky to have got paid on time every time.

[DaveB]

The worst one I've used was with a large Telecoms client a few years ago.

Fill in an online form (Client CO managed) and submit it.
Then take a screen shot of the submitted form.
Print it.
Get it signed by someone I dont report to and who has no budget responsibility and doesnt know what I do.
Scan it.
Send it to someone else (200 miles away and who has no idea what I have or have not done).
Get email approval back.
Attatch it to invoice and send to agency.
Get paid.

Three systems on the go atm.

Current Client A : Fill in an online form managed by the Agency and submit. Screen shot and send copy to Client Co. contact (at some point, no huge rush). Get Paid, regardless of step 2 being done.

Current Client B : Fill in a spread sheet. Send to client contact. Copy to Agent. Get paid.

All on billable time of course.

Client C (My favorite) : "Can you invoice us for the unused days (5) left on the PO, we need to spend the money before year end. We'll find something to do with the time later."

[unixman]

I charge £40 an hour for helping in your survey. Where do I send the invoice please.

[northernladuk]

I'll use anything that gets signed off so I can get my invoice in. I'm paid to fill it in so I'm really not that bothered.

[Saywhatyousee]

Hi,

We were just having a discussion within the team (mainly made up of contractors) about how things have changed over the last 10 years, and timesheets came up. My current agency still uses hard copies which I have to sign, scan return etc - but have used online systems in the past.

We couldn't come up with a favourite and was wondering what people on here thought. Is there a systems that you have used which was better than others - if so, why? When I have used online, it has all been pretty simple - apart from one which wanted a breakdown of every days activities - wouldn't recommend that!!

Cheers.