What is Check-In-and-Out-at-Work?
Check-in-and-out-at-work goes beyond simple attendance tracking. It means tracking both the start and end times of each employee’s actual working hours for each day—in a way that is verifiable and reliable.
This stems from European regulations that require companies to objectively record working hours. The goal is twofold: to better protect employees and to provide employers with clear evidence during labor inspections.
Why isn't Checkinatwork enough anymore?
Checkinatwork records that someone was present at the construction site. But being present is not the same as working hours.
Currently, an employee can clock in, and the hours worked are later entered by the site manager or via Excel. That works—as long as there’s no audit.
Starting in 2027, hours worked must be recorded objectively and in a traceable manner at the time they are worked. Filling out records retroactively, even if done in good faith, will no longer meet legal requirements.
What exactly do you need to record?
Starting in 2027, the law requires you to keep a daily record of:
- the actual working hours per employee
- Daily start and end times
- overtime worked, properly documented
And all of this must be objective, reliable, and subject to verification. No Excel spreadsheets, no WhatsApp messages, no loose notes from the site manager.
What's going wrong at the construction site today?
Most construction companies still operate this way today: hours are logged after the fact, each site manager has their own Excel spreadsheet, and there is no central record that you can quickly consult.
On paper, everything seems fine. But in practice, you end up with errors in payroll calculations, disputes with employees over hours worked, and no documentation whatsoever when the labor inspectorate comes by. And that is exactly what inspectors check for.
What are the risks if you don't have this in order?
Non-compliant time tracking has concrete consequences:
- Fines imposed by the Labor Inspectorate
- Arguments about overtime that you can't refute
- Errors and corrections in payroll administration
- Refunds of premiums
- Loss of trust within your team
But the biggest risk is less obvious: you no longer have an accurate picture of how your sites are performing.
LIVE.connect combines Checkinatwork, check-in and check-out, and mobility tracking into a single system—without requiring your teams to enter data twice.
How does the Labor Inspectorate monitor this?
Inspectors don't just check whether you're recording something. They check whether you can prove it.
During an audit, they typically ask for: hours worked per employee per day, start and end times, a history of changes, integration with payroll, and data by worksite.
Excel files or hours entered retroactively will not be accepted. What counts is real-time recording, with clear validation and full traceability.
"Everything was 'in order'—until the inspectors came by. It turned out later that our Excel files weren't sufficient as proof. Since then, we've been working digitally, which saves us at least an hour of administrative work every week."Site Manager, Construction Company in the Antwerp Region
Why 2026 Will Be a Crucial Year
January 1, 2027, seems a long way off. But you can’t implement a time-tracking system in just a few weeks. It affects your entire work organization: processes need to be adjusted, site managers need to learn how to use it, and your teams need to trust the system.
Companies that get started in 2026 will have plenty of time to test, gather feedback, and make adjustments before the deadline. Companies that wait will have to handle everything at once—under time pressure, with a higher risk of resistance and errors.
The real challenge: not the law, but putting it into practice
Time tracking rarely fails on paper. It fails on the job site. Why? Because the reality is complex: multiple job sites at the same time, fluctuating hours, people who aren’t always tech-savvy, and mobility that comes into play.
If your system doesn't accommodate that, it just won't work. Site managers find ways around it, employees forget about it, and after a few weeks, you're back to using Excel.
Here's how to handle this smartly
The key is simplicity. An approach that works in practice:
- On-site registration — via smartphone, tablet, or fixed reader
- Check-in and check-out in just a few clicks — even for those who aren't tech-savvy
- Automatic integration with mobility data — no duplicate data entry for people who drive company vehicles
- Validation by the site manager — one step, not five
- Data ready to use right away — for payroll and for inspections
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Check-in-at-work tracks who is present on the job site—but not how long someone actually worked. Check-in-and-out-at-work goes a step further: it also records the start and end times of actual working hours, by employee and by day, in real time. That is the essence of the legislative change that will take effect in 2027 for the construction sector.
-
Incorrect or missing time records can result in fines from the labor inspectorate, disputes over overtime that you cannot refute, errors and corrections in payroll records, and potential demands for the repayment of social security contributions. Starting in 2027, inspections will become stricter and real-time: inspectors will be able to digitally retrieve site data and compare it with your records.
-
Inspection agencies can digitally retrieve and compare site data and attendance records. They check not only whether you are recording the data, but also whether you can prove it: through start and end times for each employee, a history of changes, and a link to payroll records. Excel files or hours entered retroactively are not accepted as valid proof.
-
No, the requirement does not apply to every construction site. The registration requirement is subject to specific thresholds and situations as defined by law. The rules are strictest for larger construction sites and real estate projects. Please consult the official RSZ website for the most up-to-date thresholds and exceptions.
-
Yes. With the right solution, registration happens automatically or with minimal input —just a few taps on a smartphone or tablet, right on the job site. Good systems automatically link check-in and check-out to mobility data, eliminating the need for duplicate entries. The site manager validates the data in a single step, and it’s immediately ready for payroll and inspections.
-
The best time is now, in 2026. You can’t implement a time-tracking system in just a few weeks—it affects your entire work organization, from site supervisors to payroll. Companies that start early can test the system at their own pace, get their teams on board, and resolve any issues before the deadline. Those who wait until the end of 2026 risk making rushed decisions and facing resistance on the job site.
Ready for check-in and check-out at work in 2027?
In just 30 minutes, we’ll show you how LIVE.connect can help your construction site meet compliance requirements—without adding extra paperwork for your crews.
Hilde Lavrijssen
Marketing Manager — AllConnects BV
Hilde closely follows Belgian legislation on mobility, fleet management, and time tracking and translates it into practical insights for companies in the transportation industry.
