How to Set Up Attendances in Odoo
Knowing who is at work and for how long matters for payroll, planning and simple fairness. Odoo Attendances lets employees check in and out and gives you an accurate record without paper timesheets or a punch clock. Continuing this series of practical Odoo how-to guides, here is Attendances.
Choose how people check in
Decide how employees will record their attendance: a kiosk at the entrance, from their own device, or another method that suits your workplace. Setting up the check-in method to match how people actually arrive and work is the foundation, because it determines how easily and reliably attendance gets recorded.
Set up a check-in kiosk if you need one
For a shared entrance, a kiosk lets people check in and out on a common screen, often with a PIN or badge. Setting this up gives you a simple, central point for attendance in a workplace where people share a location. It is a clean solution for shops, warehouses and offices with a common door.
Keep it simple for employees
The whole point is an easy, quick check-in that people actually do. If it is fiddly, attendance records become unreliable. Set it up so checking in and out takes seconds. Simple, low-friction attendance is what gives you accurate data, and accurate data is the entire value of the app.
Use the data for hours worked
Attendance records give you real hours worked, useful for understanding time on site and, where relevant, feeding into payroll and planning. Setting up how this data is used connects attendance to the rest of your HR picture, so the record is not just a log but something that informs pay and scheduling.
Respect privacy and be transparent
Attendance tracking touches on privacy, so be transparent with employees about what is recorded and why, and control who can see the data. Setting this up thoughtfully keeps attendance fair and trusted rather than resented. Openness about the purpose, accurate records for pay and planning, is what makes it work smoothly.
Practical tips
- Choose a check-in method that fits how people actually arrive.
- Set up a kiosk for shared-entrance workplaces if it suits.
- Keep check-in and check-out quick so records stay reliable.
- Use the hours data for payroll and planning where relevant.
- Be transparent about tracking and control who sees the data.
My take
Attendances gives you an accurate, effortless record of hours worked, which quietly supports payroll, planning and fairness. The keys are an easy check-in method people actually use, sensible use of the resulting data, and transparency about why you track it. Set up well, it replaces paper and guesswork with reliable data, without becoming something employees feel uneasy about.
Next in this series: how to set up Surveys.
Based on the official Odoo 19 Attendances documentation. Want accurate attendance without the hassle? Get in touch.