Normally, you punch in and out against an assigned shift. But some agencies allow you to punch in even when you do not have a shift on the schedule. This is useful for last-minute call-ins, overtime, or situations where the schedule has not been updated yet.
How it works
If your agency has enabled the "allow punch without shift" setting, the punch clock still appears on your dashboard even when no shift is scheduled. You can punch in as usual. The system records your time just like any other punch.
What your supervisor sees
When you punch in without an assigned shift, your supervisor can see the punch on your timecard. They may need to add or adjust a shift to match your actual work time.
If the setting is turned off
When this setting is disabled, the punch clock only appears when you have an assigned shift. If you arrive for work and do not see the punch button, it means you do not have a shift scheduled. Contact your supervisor to get a shift added to the schedule before you try to punch in.
Example
Your station gets a late-night call for mutual aid and asks you to come in. You are not on the schedule for today, but your agency allows punches without a shift. You open the dashboard, punch in, respond to the call, and punch out when you are done. Your supervisor sees the punch on your timecard the next day and adds the appropriate hours.