Note: The Interaction Between Productive, Idle, and Manual Time is available in all Time Doctor subscription plans and can be accessed by all user access roles.
TL;DR
- Computer Time – Automatically recorded by the desktop app in either interactive or automatic mode.
- Manual Time – Entered manually via the Edit Time page or “I Was Working” pop-up; excluded from idle and productivity metrics.
- Productive / Unproductive Time – Applies only to computer activity classified in the Productivity Rating page.
- Idle Time – Logged when no keyboard or mouse activity is detected during computer time; does not reduce worked hours, payroll, or paid break totals.
- Paid Breaks – Included in total hours worked and payroll calculations only when tracked via the desktop app
Types of Time
Computer Time
Time recorded by the desktop application (both Interactive and Automatic tracking versions). These entries appear in green in the Timeline report.
Manual Time
Time added manually via the Edit Time page or by selecting “I Was Working” in the “Are You Working?” pop-up. These entries appear in orange in reports.
Break Time
Paid breaks are counted toward total hours worked and are included in payroll calculations only when tracked via the desktop app. Paid breaks added manually are excluded from these totals.
Note: When editing an existing time entry to extend its duration, only the additional minutes are counted as manual time.
Productive / Unproductive Time
Portions of Computer Time spent on websites or applications marked as Productive or Unproductive in the Settings / Productivity Rating page. Neutral and unrated time are also tracked but classified separately.
Idle Time (Idle Minutes and Idle Seconds)
Idle time occurs when the desktop application records Computer Time without any keyboard or mouse activity. Detection is based on the Time Out After settings in Settings / Users page.
FAQ
Is manual time included in idle minutes/seconds?
No. Idle minutes/seconds are only calculated during Computer Time.
Are breaks (when tracking is paused) included in idle minutes/seconds?
No. If tracking is paused manually or stopped automatically due to inactivity, that time is not counted as idle. Idle tracking applies only to Computer Time.
Are paid breaks included in total hours worked?
Yes, they are included in the total worked hours and payroll calculations, but only if they are tracked via the desktop app.
Do productivity ratings apply to manual time?
No. Manual time has no associated website or app activity, so it is excluded from the Reports / Web & App Usage report and from all productivity classifications.
Does idle time affect "productive" time?
No. Productive time is based solely on the websites and applications accessed during Computer Time, regardless of idle periods.
Does idle time affect hours tracked and payroll?
No. Idle time is not deducted from worked hours in any report or payroll integration. Many legitimate tasks naturally include high idle periods.
Should there be any inconsistencies or concerns regarding the article, contact support@timedoctor.com for prompt assistance.