What the law requires.
Clocking in, or the OWT1 form.
Without a clocking-in system, employers must record the hours worked each day on form OWT1 or an equivalent (reg. 4). With an electronic clocking system, breaks need not be recorded, provided staff are told in writing and there is a way to report missed breaks (reg. 5).
Fingerprints, faces and phones.
The Data Protection Commission treats biometric clocking with great caution: check its current guidance and carry out a data protection impact assessment before considering fingerprints or facial recognition. For location tracking, the DPC’s guidance on vehicle tracking (May 2020) rules out consent as a basis at work, and asks for a legitimate interest or legal obligation, an impact assessment and only the data you need.
A rota is not a record.
The rota says who should work; the records say who did, and for how long. Differences (overtime, swaps, late finishes) go through the records, not the rota.
And Djed?.
Djed builds the rota: who works when, on-call included. In Ireland it doesn’t keep working time records or clock-in data: you need your own system for those. To choose a rota tool, read our guide to choosing rota software.
Sources and date checked.
- Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, revised edition (sections 11 to 17 and 25).
- Organisation of Working Time (Records) Regulations 2001, S.I. 473/2001.
- Data Protection Commission, Employer Vehicle Tracking guidance (May 2020).
Texts checked on 5 October 2026. This guide is not legal advice: for your own situation, speak to your HR or employment adviser.
Frequently asked questions.
How long must an Irish vet practice keep working time records?
Three years, at the place of work (section 25 of the OWT Act 1997). Without them, the burden of proof shifts to the employer before the WRC.
Is a clocking-in system required?
No, but without one the hours of each day go on form OWT1 or an equivalent; with an electronic system, breaks need not be recorded if staff are told in writing (S.I. 473/2001).