What is a Time Card?

A time card is a cardboard ticket on which is printed the hours worked by an employee during one work week. The card is usually inserted into a time clock that prints onto it the time at which an employee begins and stops work. It is used by the payroll staff to calculate the hours for which an employee shall be paid.

The Difference Between a Time Card and Timesheet

A time card differs from a timesheet in that employees enter their own hours worked on a timesheet, and the timesheet frequently contains additional information, such as the jobs on which a person worked. Timesheets are more commonly used in job shop operations, where labor hours are charged to specific customer projects.