Quebec HVAC technician time tracking: follow team working hours

Personal time tracking records periods for the working day; a job timer records time associated with a specific service job. Mixing them up can distort team records and cost interpretation. In a Quebec refrigeration or HVAC business, a technician can be working for the company without currently billing a customer job.

Give each counter a clear purpose

Personal time tracking records the periods the business needs to follow. A job timer documents a visit and, where the billing mode uses time, its billable duration. A fixed-price job may not require a timer to calculate the price, while the person's working-time record can still help organize the day.

An owner who works in the field also needs an identifiable record. Their hours should not be assigned to a test employee or mixed into another person's record. Each entry should remain linked to the account of the person concerned.

An example with a paid lunch period

Fictional scheduling example: someone starts at 8 a.m. and finishes at 4 p.m. If the meal period is paid and the counter remains running according to company rules, the record shows eight hours. A thirty-minute unpaid break recorded as such would produce seven hours and thirty minutes. These examples explain the counter; they do not establish the compensation rules applicable to any particular situation.

Check working conditions and applicable provisions with appropriate references, including CNESST guidance on breaks and time worked, and relevant sector rules or agreements. An application setting should not be treated as a general payroll rule.

Closing the phone should not erase the start time

A useful counter retains a recorded start time rather than relying only on a number displayed on screen. In FrigoTechPro, leaving the application or closing the phone does not erase a started time entry. When returning, check the displayed status and stop the day when work actually ends. A forgotten open entry needs review and correction; an entry left running is not automatic proof that its duration is accurate.

Check the person, date and period

• Is the record linked to the correct person?
• Do its start and end times match the intended period?
• Does an entry cross midnight or a week boundary?
• Do recorded breaks match the agreed rules?
• Is a correction needed before sharing the record?

Time zones matter too, particularly for a day crossing midnight. Use the dates presented in the company's context and inspect the relevant periods before concluding that an hour has disappeared.

Use a simple weekly review

Technicians review their entries and report omissions. The manager checks team records and discrepancies before preparing payroll with the appropriate tools and professionals. In FrigoTechPro, personal time tracking remains separate from job timers, and breaks are not deducted automatically. Account permissions remain tied to each role.

To connect team organization with service visits, read the HVAC-R dispatch, scheduling and time tracking guide. The service report then documents work performed; it does not replace an employee's working-time record.

Frequently asked questions

Are personal time tracking and job timers the same?

No. Personal time tracking follows recorded periods for a person; a job timer follows the duration of one specific job.

Should the counter stop for a paid lunch?

In FrigoTechPro, leave personal time tracking running when the period should remain paid under your company rules. Breaks are not deducted automatically.

Does time tracking continue when the phone is closed?

Yes, the recorded start remains saved. Check the entry when returning and correct any forgotten end time.