📝 How Time Submission Works (and Why Pay Can Be Delayed)

This article explains how time submission works across assignments and systems, what different timecard statuses mean, and why pay can sometimes appear delayed or missing. It applies to consultants, recruiters, and account executives.

Most pay delays are caused by submission timing, approval status, or payroll cutoff. Start there before escalating.

📌 What Matters Most

Time must be entered in the correct system for your assignment.
Saved / Draft time is not submitted and will not be paid.
Some assignments require manager or client approval before hours can be paid.
Time submitted or approved after the payroll cutoff is paid on the next payroll cycle.
Client or VMS systems (Fieldglass, Beeline, etc.) can add additional processing time.

📍

Which Time System to Use

⌄

The time system depends on your client and assignment. Common systems include:

Client or vendor portals (Fieldglass, Beeline, etc.)
Client-specific internal timekeeping systems
The Eight Eleven time portal — accessible three ways:
- Able / Talent Platform (preferred — use your existing onboarding profile)
- Bullhorn Time & Expense portal (direct login — requires one-time registration)
- Bullhorn Time & Expense mobile app (Company Code: E811)

⚠️

Only time entered in the system assigned to your placement is visible to Payroll. If you're unsure which system to use, contact your recruiter.

For full login and registration instructions for the Eight Eleven time portal, see: Registering & Logging In to the Time Portal

✅

Timecard Statuses — What They Mean

⌄

Saved / Draft

Not submitted, not payable. Payroll does not receive or process draft time.

Submitted

Sent for approval (if required) or queued for payroll.

Approved

Eligible to flow to payroll. Payroll cutoffs still apply.

Rejected

Must be corrected and resubmitted. Rejected time does not move forward automatically.

Pending Approval

Submitted but not yet approved. Hours may not appear on payroll until approval occurs.

👤

Approval Requirements

⌄

Some assignments require manager or client approval before time can be processed. Time may appear visible in the system but remain unpaid until approval occurs.

Repeated approval delays are one of the most common causes of late pay. If your manager consistently approves after the cutoff, flag this to your recruiter.

🗓️

Payroll Cutoffs and Pay Timing

⌄

Each assignment has a weekly cutoff that varies by client, payroll type, and holidays. A common guideline is approval by Monday at 4:00 PM ET, but earlier cutoffs may apply during holiday weeks or for specific clients.

Time submitted or approved after the cutoff is processed on the next payroll cycle.

🧾

Why Time May Appear Missing or Delayed

⌄

If your hours look missing or your paycheck seems lower than expected, check these first:

Timecard saved but not submitted

⌄

Many systems allow you to save time without submitting it. Timecards in Saved, Draft, or In Progress status are not sent to Payroll and will not be paid until submitted.

Submitted but waiting on approval

⌄

If your timecard shows Pending Approval or Awaiting Manager Approval, your hours have not yet reached Payroll. Approval must occur before the cutoff for hours to appear on the current paycheck.

Timecard was rejected

⌄

Rejected timecards must be corrected and resubmitted. They do not move forward automatically and will not be paid until resubmitted and approved (if required).

Wrong week-ending date or assignment

⌄

Hours entered under the wrong week-ending date or assignment may appear on a different paycheck than expected. This can make pay look missing when it was actually applied to a different period.

Submitted or approved after payroll cutoff

⌄

If time was submitted or approved after the applicable cutoff, it will be processed on the next payroll cycle. This is the most common reason pay appears a week late.

Client or VMS system delay

⌄

Assignments using external systems like Fieldglass or Beeline may experience short delays even when everything is functioning correctly. Time may appear approved in the client system before Payroll has received it, and files must pass validation before hours can be processed.

🚫

If You Can't Submit Due to a System Issue

⌄

When a technical issue prevents submission, contact your recruiter with:

Week-ending date
Total hours worked
Which system you're using (BTE, VMS, portal, etc.)
Screenshots or error messages

⚠️

Important: Payroll cutoffs still apply even when technical issues occur. Report the issue as early as possible.

🕒

How Entered Hours Are Reviewed

⌄

Payroll reviews hours exactly as entered in the system of record, including:

Daily hours for correct dates
Overtime or special hours based on client rules
Expenses, if enabled and documented

Incorrect or incomplete entries may be rejected or delayed until corrected.

📨

What Helps Resolve Issues Faster

⌄

When reaching out for help, include the following to speed up review:

Your full name
Client or assignment name
Week-ending date
Hours worked versus hours paid
Screenshots showing timecard status

🔗

Eight Eleven Group Support →

Articles in this section

Comments

Articles in this section

Related articles