Hourly work verification

Hourly contracts include built-in checks such as activity logs or screenshots, so you can verify the hours you are billed for.

What it is

Hourly work verification is a feature that records evidence of time worked on an hourly contract. Typical forms are a time tracker that logs hours, periodic screenshots, activity levels or a work diary that you can review before approving payment. For example, you could see that a contractor billed six hours and check the log for those sessions. Upwork is a tool that lists this feature.

Why it matters

With hourly work you pay for time you cannot see. Verification gives you a basis to approve or query an invoice. It does not prove quality, and not every kind of work leaves a trail, such as thinking, calls or offline research. For fixed-price work you pay for a result, so you do not need it.

What to check

  • What exactly is recorded, and can the contractor review or delete entries?
  • How long do you have to dispute hours after they are logged?
  • Does the tracker work for non-computer tasks, such as calls or meetings?
  • Are there privacy rules on screenshots that apply where the contractor lives?

Tools with Hourly work verification

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    ToolPeople
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In Hiring ranking order; the number is each tool's place.