In Mendato, understanding the difference between target, planned, and actual time is essential for time tracking. These three models shape how working time is documented and later processed in preparatory payroll.
Here is an overview:
1. Target Time
Definition: Target time is the contractually agreed working time according to the employee's working time model. It defines how many hours an employee is supposed to work in a given period (e.g. per week or month).
Usage: Target times are stored in the employee's working time model and serve as the basis for calculating absences (such as vacation or sick leave).
Purpose: They form the basis for identifying deviations from the scheduled working time — for example overtime or undertime.
2. Planned Time
Definition: Planned times are the scheduled operating times of an employee, derived from shift and operation planning. They specify when and how long an employee is supposed to work on specific operations.
Usage: These times are entered during operation planning and shift creation within an order.
Purpose: Planned times help with structured operation planning and are useful for calculating staffing needs. They are often used as the basis when actual times cannot be recorded manually, so the planned times are used for billing instead.
3. Actual Time
Definition: Actual time is the working time genuinely performed, recorded either manually or via digital time tracking.
Usage: Employees can record their actual times via Mendato Operations by logging journey, breaks, and the end of the operation. Alternatively, actual times can be taken over automatically from the planned times.
Purpose: Actual time is relevant for real billing and payroll, since it reflects the working time genuinely performed.
What These Time Models Mean for Payroll
Mendato currently does not flag which time tracking model (target, planned, or actual time) is used to pay each employee. It is therefore important that the payroll team or tax advisor is informed which model applies to each employee.
This information must be tracked and communicated outside Mendato to ensure correct billing.
Once the relevant models are known to the payroll team, the recorded times can be exported for preparatory payroll to DATEV LODAS, DATEV Lohn & Gehalt, Lexware, or as an Excel file.
Practical Implementation for Payroll in Mendato
Record and review the times: Make sure that all recorded and entered times are complete and correct. This applies both to manually entered actual times and to planned times taken over automatically.
Communicate the compensation model: Make sure the payroll team knows which compensation model (target, planned, or actual time) applies to each employee.
Preparation and export: With complete time tracking data and the model specified, the export to payroll can be performed efficiently and handed over to the relevant accounting software.
This approach ensures clear and traceable accounting in preparatory payroll.