Identify the incomplete record
Check whether the device failed to sync, the employee used another reader or the punch was mapped incorrectly. A delayed import can resemble a forgotten punch. Review available events before asking the employee to reconstruct the day, and keep the record in an exception queue until it is resolved.
Collect a reason and review it
Ask for the date, proposed time and explanation. Managers should review relevant evidence under the company's attendance policy. Avoid silently filling every missing event with the scheduled shift end, which can turn uncertain data into apparently confirmed work. Any automatic inference should remain distinguishable from a recorded punch.
Keep corrections traceable
Record the original event sequence, approved correction, reviewer and review time. If the payroll period is already closed, route the change through the adjustment procedure. Monitor recurring incidents by device and location before assuming that repeated exceptions are an employee behaviour problem.
Worked example
Ten employees have no evening events on the same reader. Investigate device connectivity before requesting ten individual corrections; the common pattern may indicate a data collection failure.
Practical checklist
- Check sync status before editing attendance.
- Distinguish recorded timestamps from inferred values.
- Retain a reason and approver for every correction.