Why approved hours differ from rostered hours

The essentials

Overview

A rostered shift is what you planned. A timesheet is what actually happened — when somebody really started, when they really finished, and how long they were off the floor.

The two rarely match to the minute, and pay follows the timesheet rather than the plan. Anything that drifts a long way from the roster is marked so you look at it instead of hunting for it.

Before you start

Identify the exact shift or pay period. Keep planned hours, recorded hours, estimated earnings and final pay separate.

Step by step

1. Hours become pay only after approval

   Orbit will not let a pay run leave while a timesheet in the period is still open or waiting on somebody. That is a floor, not a preference — it cannot be switched off.

2. Approve today’s hours

   Anything that does not match the roster is flagged so you look at it rather than hunt for it. Approve what is right; fix what is not.

3. Where approved hours land

   The pay period view fills up as you approve. When nothing is left open, the period is ready to pay.

4. Approving is quiet

   Approving somebody’s hours does not ping them — there is nothing for them to do about it. What Orbit does tell people about is set by your business.

   Review the choices available for your organisation in Orbit.

What to check

If you need more help

Provide the period and the specific figure you believe is wrong. Your payroll team should resolve final pay questions; support can investigate an Orbit error identified during that review.