Hours+ for Payroll Accountants: Overriding Automatic Timecard Calculations

While most timecards can be a simple approval, some may include unique pay scenarios or corrections. 

Being able to adjust timecard calculations as a payroll accountant when reviewing timecards helps reduce delays in processing your crew member’s timecards, and most importantly, get them paid on time. 

With calculation overrides, you have more control and flexibility when managing your project’s timecards.

This article shows you how to perform this task in both Classic and New experiences.

Steps for Classic Experience

Performing a Manual Calculation Override

To override a timecard calculation, locate the timecard via the Timecards tab and open it to get to the weekly timecard screen.

Scroll down to the “Timecard Breakdown” section and click Edit:

You’ll be prompted with the following message, that includes a very important tip:

Click Proceed.

The Timecard Breakdown will open, allowing you to override the automatic calculations:

Choose which fields you need to override and enter your overrides. In our example, we’ve updated the Hours/units for 06/02/2025 for Straight Time & Overtime. Once you’ve made your overrides, click Save:

You’ll then be required to enter a comment explaining the reason for the override. It is important to enter a detailed comment documenting your change to avoid future approval delays for the timecard. Enter your comment and click Continue:

This comment will be added to the timecard for transparency. 

A new message will appear above the timecard calculation to the right, informing you of the override:

As well as an icon on the timecard in the batch information section:

Performing a manual override also enables two more tabs under the Timecard Breakdown section. These sections allow you to view the Manual changes and the Original calculations by clicking on each tab:

• Manual changes tab: Allows you to review the manual changes you have made to timecard’s calculations compared to the original in one tab. Manual changes will be highlighted in yellow.
• Original calculations tab: Allows you to view all original calculations of the timecard, prior to any manual changes made. 

From here, once you have reviewed and are ready, you can submit the timecard with your manual overrides for approval. 

Restoring System Calculation

If you have made manual changes to a timecard calculation but want to revert back to the system calculation, no problem. 

Simply click Restore system calculation above the timecard calculation breakdown:

This will prompt you with a message informing you that any manual overrides entered will be removed and shows the manual changes you’ve made for review. Click Erase & Continue:

The timecard calculation will now revert to the automatic system calculation. 

Known Limitations for Early Access Rollout

1. Override Disconnection - When an override is applied, the calculation becomes disconnected from the hourly time entry grid. Any subsequent changes in the grid won't be reflected in the overridden calculation.
2. Loss of Overrides on Reversion - Reverting to the system-generated calculation or making changes in the time entry grid removes all overrides, requiring you to reapply any custom modifications.
3. Loss of Cross-Week Calculation Logic - Calculations that require context from a previous week’s timecard will not function when the previous week’s timecard is in manual mode.
   1. E.g., 6th/7th days, weekend rest invasion, DGA COA
4. Overrides Do Not Fix Rule Setup - While the override feature can help resolve one-off issues, it will not result in the rules being fixed, meaning similar scenarios will continue to occur in future weeks. It is advised to reach out to Plus.Support@castandcrew.com with rule update requests applicable for your entire project; you can use the Calculation Override tool to correct the mistake while the rule updates are being made.
5. Required Revert to Automatic on Rejection - When you reject a manual timecard back to the employee, the system will force that timecard to be reverted to the automatic calculation, causing the you to lose their manual overrides. This is to ensure that any changes to the time-entries are calculated via the rules engine.

Steps for New Experience

Performing a Manual Calculation Override

To override a timecard calculation, locate the timecard via the Timecards tab and open it to get to the weekly timecard screen.

Scroll down to the “Timecard Breakdown” section and click Edit:

You’ll be prompted with the following message, that includes a very important tip:

Click Proceed.

The Timecard Breakdown will open, allowing you to override the automatic calculations:

Choose which fields you need to override and enter your overrides. In our example, we’ve updated the Hours/units for 03/30/2026 for Straight Time & Overtime. Once you’ve made your overrides, click Save:

You’ll then be required to enter a comment explaining the reason for the override. It is important to enter a detailed comment documenting your change to avoid future approval delays for the timecard. Enter your comment and click Save:

This comment will be added to the timecard for transparency. 

A new message will appear above the timecard calculation to the right, informing you of the override:

As well as an icon on the timecard in the batch information section:

Performing a manual override also enables two more tabs under the Timecard Breakdown section. These sections allow you to view the Manual changes and the Original calculations by clicking on each tab:

• Manual changes tab: Allows you to review the manual changes you have made to timecard’s calculations compared to the original in one tab. Manual changes will be highlighted in yellow.
• Original calculations tab: Allows you to view all original calculations of the timecard, prior to any manual changes made. 

From here, once you have reviewed and are ready, you can submit the timecard with your manual overrides for approval. 

Restoring System Calculation

If you have made manual changes to a timecard calculation but want to revert back to the system calculation, no problem. 

Simply click Restore system calculation above the timecard calculation breakdown:

This will prompt you with a message informing you that any manual overrides entered will be removed and shows the manual changes you’ve made for review. Click Erase & Continue:

The timecard calculation will now revert to the automatic system calculation. 

Known Limitations for Early Access Rollout

1. Override Disconnection - When an override is applied, the calculation becomes disconnected from the hourly time entry grid. Any subsequent changes in the grid won't be reflected in the overridden calculation.
2. Loss of Overrides on Reversion - Reverting to the system-generated calculation or making changes in the time entry grid removes all overrides, requiring you to reapply any custom modifications.
3. Loss of Cross-Week Calculation Logic - Calculations that require context from a previous week’s timecard will not function when the previous week’s timecard is in manual mode.
   1. E.g., 6th/7th days, weekend rest invasion, DGA COA
4. Overrides Do Not Fix Rule Setup - While the override feature can help resolve one-off issues, it will not result in the rules being fixed, meaning similar scenarios will continue to occur in future weeks. It is advised to reach out to Plus.Support@castandcrew.com with rule update requests applicable for your entire project; you can use the Calculation Override tool to correct the mistake while the rule updates are being made.
5. Required Revert to Automatic on Rejection - When you reject a manual timecard back to the employee, the system will force that timecard to be reverted to the automatic calculation, causing the you to lose their manual overrides. This is to ensure that any changes to the time-entries are calculated via the rules engine.