---
title: timesheets.clockIn | Doing Work API
description: Start a person's clock: on a job (work), or drive, shop or break time. A field worker clocks only themself, and on a visit only when assigned to it; the ow
url: https://doingwork.work/docs/reference/timesheets-clockin/
---

# timesheets.clockIn

Start a person's clock: on a job (work), or drive, shop or break time. A field worker clocks only themself, and on a visit only when assigned to it; the owner or office can clock in anyone. One running clock per person per shop: pass stop_running to stop the running one first (for example to switch from drive to work).

|  |  |
|---|---|
| Who | Agents can call this |
| REST | `POST /v1/timesheets/clock-in` |
| MCP tool | `timesheets_clockIn` |
| Writes | yes, send an Idempotency-Key |
| Area | [Field work (checklists, forms, time, notes, change orders, subcontractors)](https://doingwork.work/docs/reference/#field-work-checklists-forms-time-notes-change-orders-subcontractors) |

## When to use it

Keep the crew's time: timesheets.clockIn starts a clock on a job (category work) or for drive, shop or break time, and timesheets.clockOut stops it; one clock runs per person per shop (pass stop_running to switch). Forgotten time goes in with timesheets.add (start and end, at most 24 hours per entry); time never overlaps the same person's other time.

## What to tell the owner

Say what you did in plain words and what happens next.

## Input

| Field | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|
| `shop_id` | string (uuid) | no |
| `job_id` | string (uuid) | no |
| `visit_id` | string (uuid) | no |
| `person_id` | string (uuid) | no |
| `category` | string (one of work, drive, shop, break) | no |
| `notes` | string | no |
| `stop_running` | boolean | no |

## Example

```http
POST https://doingwork.work/v1/timesheets/clock-in
content-type: application/json
Idempotency-Key: 3f1c...

{
  "shop_id": "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000000",
  "job_id": "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000000",
  "visit_id": "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000000",
  "person_id": "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000000",
  "category": "work",
  "notes": "...",
  "stop_running": true
}
```

## Output

JSON. The response shape isn't published yet; read the fields you need and ignore the rest. Errors are `{code, message, status}`.

## Errors

| Code | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| `invalid_input`, `invalid_token`, `rate_limited` |  | Can happen on any call. See [errors](https://doingwork.work/docs/errors/). |