# Attaching a free clocking to a shift

> An employee clocked in without being scheduled? Create the corresponding shift and link the free clocking to it to regularise the situation.

Source: https://help.shyfter.com/en/reports/attaching-a-free-clocking-to-a-shift  
Category: Reports  
Updated: 2026-06-30

A free clocking appears when an employee clocks in (via the mobile app or the tablet) while they have no shift planned in the schedule at that time. This type of clocking is shown in red in the timesheet control and remains "floating" until it is attached to a shift.

Attaching a free clocking to a shift is essential: without this link, the hours will not be correctly counted in the timesheets or in the exports to payroll.

## Spotting free clockings

Go to **Reports → Timesheet control**.

The red rows indicate free clockings. These are the clockings that are not attached to any planned shift.

## Regularising the situation in two steps

### Step 1: create the corresponding shift

Before attaching the clocking, a shift must exist in the schedule.

1. Go to **Schedules → Schedule management**.
2. Navigate to the date concerned.
3. Create the shift for the employee (times, section, skill if needed).
4. Publish the shift.

### Step 2: attach the free clocking

Go back to **Reports → Timesheet control** and click on the red row of the free clocking.

The detail panel opens on the right. Click **Attach to a shift**.

A selector appears with the list of shifts available for this employee on this date. Choose the shift you have just created, then click **Save**.

The row changes from red to blue: the clocking is now correctly attached to the shift.

> If you do not see the shift in the list, check that it has indeed been published in the schedule. A draft shift cannot be selected.