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Administrators: What are they and how do they work?

Learn about the role of Administrators in Buddy Punch, including their permissions to view or edit a subset of employees.

Overview: Administrators in Buddy Punch are upgraded Employees with permissions to manage time, scheduling, and availability for all Employees and Managers. This article covers how to assign Administrator roles and set their permissions.

Important! If an individual needs to oversee employees and track their own time, they should be added as a Manager instead. More information here.

Instructions:


Upgrade An Employee To Administrator

If you haven't already, you'll first need to create the user in question as an employee as detailed here.

1. Once created as an employee, click Settings --> Administrators:

Dashboard - Google Chrome 2026-06-04 at 11.43.53 AM

2. On the Administrators page, you're able to see a list of all current Administrators, as well as a dropdown to select an Employee to upgrade.

Select the name of the user you want to upgrade to Administrator from the dropdown list and then click Add:

Important! To add a new Administrator, they must first be added to the system as an employee. More information on how to add new employees here.


Overview of Administrator Capabilities

Permissions:
​User Management

Permissions

Admin

Notes

👤User Management

Add/Delete Employees

✅ Yes

Bulk Add/Upload Employees

❌ No*

*Please contact Buddy Punch Support and we'll be happy to bulk upload your employees.

Deactivate/Reactivate Employees

✅ Yes

Edit Employee Profile Details

✅ Yes

Change Username

✅ Yes

Change Password

✅ Yes

Set Manager/Employee Time Zone

✅ Yes

Assign Employee Rules and Permissions

✅ Yes

Add/Delete Hourly Pay Rates

✅ Yes

Edit Hourly Pay Rates

✅ Yes

Upgrade/Downgrade Employee to Manager

✅ Yes

Assign/Remove Manager Permissions

✅ Yes

Edit Manager Permissions

✅ Yes

Add/Remove Administrators

✅ Yes

Resend Welcome Emails

✅ Yes

⚙️ Account Settings

General Settings

Admin

Notes

Set Account/Company Name

✅ Yes

Set Account Time Zone

✅ Yes

Set Date Format

✅ Yes

Set Time Format

✅ Yes

Enable Automatic Punch Out (Based on Hours Worked)

✅ Yes

Set Employee Permissions to Edit Time

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable Shift and Time Off Delete Option

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable Split Shifts at Midnight

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable Employee Profile Pictures

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable Mobile Punches

✅ Yes

Alerts & Reminder Settings

Admin

Notes

Create/Delete Alerts & Reminders

✅ Yes

Edit Alert & Reminder Permissions

✅ Yes

Receive Alerts & Reminders

✅ Yes

Deactivate/Reactivate Alerts & Reminders

✅ Yes

Break Rule Settings

Admin

Notes

Create/Delete Break Rules

✅ Yes

Edit Break Rule Permissions

✅ Yes

Assign/Unassign Break Rules

✅ Yes

Deactivate/Reactivate Break Rules

✅ Yes

Device Lock Settings

Admin

Notes

Create/Delete Device Locks

✅ Yes

Edit Device Locks

✅ Yes

Assign/Unassign Device Locks

✅ Yes

Deactivate/Reactivate Device Locks

✅ Yes

Geofence Settings

Admin

Notes

Create/Delete Geofences

✅ Yes

Edit Geofences

✅ Yes

Assign/Unassign Geofences

✅ Yes

Deactivate/Reactivate Geofences

✅ Yes

Basic GPS Tracking Settings

Admin

Notes

Enable/Disable Basic GPS Tracking

✅ Yes

Set Basic GPS Tracking Requirements

✅ Yes

Real-Time GPS Tracking Settings

Admin

Notes

Enable/Disable Real-Time GPS Tracking

✅ Yes

Turn GPS Tracking During Shifts On/Off for Employees

✅ Yes

Integration Settings

Admin

Notes

Enable/Disable Payroll Integrations

✅ Yes

Set/Edit Payroll Integration Settings

✅ Yes

IP Address Lock Settings

Admin

Notes

Create/Delete IP Address Locks

✅ Yes

Edit IP Address Locks

✅ Yes

Assign/Unassign IP Address Locks

✅ Yes

Deactivate/Reactivate IP Address Locks

✅ Yes

Kiosk Settings

Admin

Notes

Enable/Disable Kiosk Settings

✅ Yes

Set/Edit Kiosk Settings

✅ Yes

Set/Edit Kiosk PINs

✅ Yes

Email PINs to All Employees in Bulk

✅ Yes

Email PINs to Individual Employees

✅ Yes

Locations, Departments, Positions (Job Codes) Settings

Admin

Notes

Create/Delete Job Codes

✅ Yes

Assign/Unassign Job Codes

✅ Yes

Deactivate/Reactivate Job Codes

✅ Yes

Overtime Settings

Admin

Notes

Set/Edit Overtime First Day of the Work Week

✅ Yes

Set/Edit Overtime Type at Account Level

✅ Yes

Set/Edit Overtime Type at Employee Level

✅ Yes

Create/Delete Custom Overtime Rule

✅ Yes

Set/Edit Custom Overtime Rule

✅ Yes

Assign/Unassign Custom Overtime Rule

✅ Yes

Recalculate Overtime

❌ No*

*Must contact Buddy Punch Support for help with recalculating Overtime for past pay periods once an employee's Overtime rule has been changed.

Pay Period Settings

Admin

Notes

Set/Edit Pay Period Frequency

✅ Yes

Set/Edit Pay Period Start Date

✅ Yes

Close/Lock Pay Periods

✅ Yes

Pay Rate Settings

Admin

Notes

Enable Display Pay Rates on Time Cards

✅ Yes

Enable Display Pay Rates on Reports

✅ Yes

Enable Display Pay Rates on Schedule

✅ Yes

Enable Allow Employees to View Pay Amounts

✅ Yes

Enable Allow Managers to View Pay Rates for Assigned Employees

✅ Yes

Export Current Pay Rates

✅ Yes

Punch Limiting Settings

Admin

Notes

Create/Delete Punch Limiting Rule

✅ Yes

Edit Punch Limiting Rule

✅ Yes

Assign/Unassign Punch Limiting Rule

✅ Yes

Deactivate/Reactivate Punch Limiting Rule

✅ Yes

Punch Rounding Settings

Admin

Notes

Create/Delete Punch Rounding Rule

✅ Yes

Edit Punch Rounding Rule

✅ Yes

Assign/Unassign Punch Rounding Rule

✅ Yes

Deactivate/Reactivate Punch Rounding Rule

✅ Yes

QR Code Settings

Admin

Notes

Enable/Disable QR Code Setting

✅ Yes

Set/Edit QR Code Setting

✅ Yes

View/Download Employee QR Codes

✅ Yes

Scheduling Settings

Admin

Notes

Enable/Disable Scheduling

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable No Shift

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable Automatic Punch Out (Based on Scheduled Shift)

✅ Yes

Set Multiple Shift Overlap Option

✅ Yes

Set Time Off & Shift Overlap Option

✅ Yes

Set Schedule View Permissions

✅ Yes

Set Early/Late Settings

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable Account Availability

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable Employee Availability

✅ Yes

Set/Edit Employee Availability Permissions

✅ Yes

Set Availability View Permissions

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable Trades

✅ Yes

Set/Edit Employee Trade Permissions

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable Covers

✅ Yes

Set/Edit Employee Cover Permissions

✅ Yes

Submit Trade/Cover Requests

✅ Yes

Approve Trade/Cover Requests

✅ Yes

Time Off Settings

Admin

Notes

Enable/Disable Time Off Tracking

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable Employees Viewing Time Off for All Employees

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable Time Off Accruals

✅ Yes

Add/Delete Time Off Earning Codes

✅ Yes

Assign Time Off Accrual Rules

✅ Yes

Edit Time Off Earning Code Settings

✅ Yes

Deactivate/Reactivate Time Off Earning Codes

✅ Yes

Add/Delete Time Off Accrual Rules

✅ Yes

Assign Time Off Accrual Rules

✅ Yes

Edit Time Off Accrual Rules

✅ Yes

Deactivate/Reactivate Accrual Rules

✅ Yes

Create/Delete Company Calendar

✅ Yes

Create/Assign Black Out Dates

✅ Yes

Time Card Approval Settings

Admin

Notes

Enable/Disable Time Card Approvals

✅ Yes

Enable/Disable "Agree To" Text Option

✅ Yes

Bulk Approve Closed Time Cards

✅ Yes

Webcam on Punches Settings

Admin

Notes

Enable/Disable Webcam on Punches

✅ Yes

Assign/Unassign Webcam on Punches Requirements

✅ Yes

🕒 Time Management

Work Hours

Admin

Notes

Punch In/Out

❌ No*

*Admins are free accounts and don't count towards billing. As a result, they can't punch in/out or track time off.

Add Time (Start/End Time)

✅ Yes

*If edits are enabled.

Edit Time (Start/End Time)

✅ Yes

*If edits are enabled.

Delete Time (Start/End Time)

✅ Yes

Approve Time (Start/End Time)

✅ Yes

Add Time Entry Duration (Total Hours Worked)

✅ Yes

Edit Time Entry Duration (Total Hours Worked)

✅ Yes

Delete Time Entry Duration (Total Hours Worked)

✅ Yes

Add Notes to Time

✅ Yes

Breaks

Admin

Notes

Start/End Break

❌ No*

*Admins are free accounts and don't count towards billing. As a result, they can't punch in/out or track breaks.

Add Breaks (Start/End Time)

✅ Yes

*If edits are enabled.

Edit Breaks (Start/End Time)

✅ Yes

*If edits are enabled.

Delete Breaks (Start/End Time)

✅ Yes

Add Break (Total Break Time)

✅ Yes

*If edits are enabled.

Edit Breaks (Total Break Time)

✅ Yes

*If edits are enabled.

Delete Breaks (Total Break Time)

✅ Yes

Approve/Deny Breaks

✅ Yes

Time Cards

Admin

Notes

View Time Cards

✅ Yes

Submit Time Cards for Approval

✅ Yes

Approve/Deny Time Cards

✅ Yes

Bulk Approve Time Cards

✅ Yes

Delete Time Cards

❌ No*

*Must contact Buddy Punch Support for help with deleting time cards.

View Job Codes on Time Cards

✅ Yes

View IP Address Details on Time Cards

✅ Yes

View Device Used Details on Time Cards

✅ Yes

View Webcam Images on Time Cards

✅ Yes

View Basic GPS Details on Time Cards

✅ Yes

Time Off

Admin

Notes

View Time Off Calendar

✅ Yes

*Employees can only view their own time off by default, but can be configured to allow them to see other employees' time off.

Add Time Off

✅ Yes

Edit Time Off

✅ Yes

*If edits are enabled.

Delete Time Off

✅ Yes

*Employees can only delete unapproved time off in future pay periods.

View PTO Balances

✅ Yes

Review Time Off History

✅ Yes

Approve/Deny Time Off Requests

✅ Yes

Manually Adjust PTO Balances

✅ Yes

Sync Time Off to Google Calendar, iCal, or Outlook

✅ Yes

*Employees can only sync their own time off by default, but can be configured to allow them to sync other employees' time off.

Scheduling

Admin

Notes

View Schedules

✅ Yes

*Employees can only view their schedule by default, but can be configured to allow them to see other employees' schedules.

Create/Delete Individual Shifts

✅ Yes

Edit Individual Shifts

✅ Yes

Create/Delete Repeating Shifts

✅ Yes

Edit Repeating Shifts

✅ Yes

Assign a Color to a Shift

✅ Yes

Publish/Unpublish Schedules

✅ Yes

Create/Delete Open Shifts

✅ Yes

Edit Open Shifts

✅ Yes

View Open Shifts

✅ Yes

View Labor Costs

✅ Yes

*Employees and Managers can only see labor costs if allowed.

Send Notifications About Schedules

✅ Yes

View Availability

✅ Yes

*Employees can only view their availability by default, but can be configured to allow them to see other employees' availability.

Create Availability

✅ Yes

Edit/Delete Availability

✅ Yes

*If edits are enabled.

Navigate Time on the Schedule

✅ Yes

Use the Schedule Log

✅ Yes

*What the employee can see is based on the account Schedule View permissions located on the Settings --> Scheduling page.

Initiate Trades & Covers

✅ Yes

Review Trades & Covers

✅ Yes

Approve Trades & Covers

✅ Yes

Withdraw Trades & Covers

✅ Yes

Sync The Schedule to Google Calendar, iCal, or Outlook

✅ Yes

*Employees can only sync their own schedules by default, but can be configured to allow them to sync other employees' schedules as well.

💳 Billing

Admin

Notes

View Billing Page

✅ Yes

View Billing Discounts

✅ Yes

Change Plan/Plan Frequency

✅ Yes

View/Print Invoices & Receipts

✅ Yes

Update Billing/Card Information

✅ Yes

Update Billing Contact

✅ Yes

Set up ACH Payment

✅ Yes

Pause Account

✅ Yes

Cancel Account

✅ Yes

💰 Buddy Punch Payroll

Admin

Notes

Initiate Payroll Onboarding

✅ Yes

Complete Company Onboarding

✅ Yes

Update Company Filing Authorization

✅ Yes

Update Company Tax Setup

✅ Yes

Update Company Details

✅ Yes

Add/Update Company Bank Information

✅ Yes

Add/Deactivate Workplaces

✅ Yes

Edit Workplaces

✅ Yes

Add/Delete Company Benefits

✅ Yes

Edit Company Benefits

✅ Yes

Create W-2 Hourly Payroll Profile

✅ Yes

Create W-2 Salary Payroll Profile

✅ Yes

Complete Employee Onboarding

✅ Yes

Send Payroll Onboarding Email

✅ Yes

Add/Delete Employee Benefits

✅ Yes

Edit Employee Benefits

✅ Yes

Add/Update Worker Bank Information

✅ Yes

*Employer will need to re-send onboarding email to allow worker to update bank details.

Add/Delete Post Tax Deductions

✅ Yes

Edit Post Tax Deductions

✅ Yes

Edit Payroll Profile

✅ Yes

*Employer will need to re-send onboarding email to allow worker to update bank details.

Run Payroll

✅ Yes

Run Off-Cycle Payroll

✅ Yes

View Previous Payrolls

✅ Yes

View Payroll Tax Deposits

✅ Yes

View/Download Filing Authorization Documents

✅ Yes

View/Download Company Tax Documents

✅ Yes

Request Accelerated Payroll Processing

✅ Yes

Run/Download Payroll Reports

✅ Yes

View/Download Employee Paystubs

✅ Yes

View/Download Employee Tax Documents (W2)

✅ Yes

Create Contractor Hourly Payroll Profile

✅ Yes

Create Contractor Salary Payroll Profile

✅ Yes

Complete Contractor Onboarding

✅ Yes

View/Download Contractor Payment Information

✅ Yes

View/Download Contractor Tax Documents (1099)

✅ Yes

📊 Reports

Admin

Notes

View/Run Reports

✅ Full Access

*Employees can export the Time Card report for their own hours.

Export Data (CSV, Excel, PDF, etc.)

✅ Yes

🔷 Other

Admin

Notes

Send Mass Announcements to Employees

✅ Yes

Reach out to Buddy Punch Support for Help

✅ Yes

Mobile App Access

✅ Yes

Submit a Feature Request

✅ Yes

Request Password Reset

✅ Yes

Recover Username

✅ Yes


FAQ

Q: Why can't I create a new Admin on the Administrator page?

A: Administrators can only be created by upgrading an Employee. If the person you want to make a new Administrator is not yet in the system, you'll first need to add them as an Employee using these steps.

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