> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.fieldpulse.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How to Track Lunch Breaks > Account for technician lunch time in FieldPulse timesheets and reports with a recurring schedule task, clock-out notes, or two separate timesheets. > **Who uses this:** Admins set up each tracking method — the Lunch Break task category and the timesheet settings live in **Company Settings**, which only Admins can view; technicians record their own lunch breaks. **Availability:** All regions · Employee Timesheets, which the clock-out note and separate timesheet methods run on, is included in the FieldPulse subscription. FieldPulse tracks technician lunch breaks three ways — a recurring task on the [schedule](https://www.fieldpulse.com/features/scheduling-and-dispatching), a note added at clock-out, or two separate timesheets that split general time from job time. Each method keeps lunch time visible in your timesheets and reporting. Pick the one that matches how your crew already takes lunch. ## Overview Tracking lunch breaks means recording the time technicians are off the clock for lunch so it shows up in timesheets and reporting instead of sitting inside job hours. FieldPulse gives you three methods: * **A recurring task** suits technicians who break at the same time every day. The task blocks the time on the schedule, which prevents accidental job assignments during the break. * **Clock-out notes** suit technicians who take lunch at different times and already clock in and out. Each break is tagged with a note you can pull into timesheet reporting. * **Separate timesheets** suit teams that need general time at work kept apart from time spent on specific jobs. ## Before you begin * Choose the method that matches how your crew takes lunch. Fixed daily breaks point to a recurring task, staggered breaks point to clock-out notes, and a need to separate general time from job time points to separate timesheets. * The clock-out note and separate timesheet methods both run on **Employee Timesheets**, found in **Company Settings** > **Features & Plugins**. For how timesheets work day to day, see [How to Use Employee Timesheets](/jobs/timesheets/employee-timesheets). * The recurring task and separate timesheet methods are set up in **Company Settings**, so an Admin turns them on. ## Track lunch with a recurring task A recurring lunch task puts the break on each assigned technician's schedule and blocks that time, so no one is assigned a job over lunch. Use it when technicians break at a consistent time, such as 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM every weekday. ### Create the Lunch Break task category 1. Go to **Company Settings** > **Jobs** > **Task Categories**. 2. Enter **Lunch Break** as the category name and pick a color. 3. Select **Add Task Category**. The Task Categories subtab under Company Settings and Jobs, with Lunch Break typed into the category name field and the Add Task Category button beside it ### Create the recurring lunch task 1. Go to **Schedule** and select the arrow next to **Create Job**, then select **Recurring Task**. 2. Title the task **Lunch Break**. 3. Select **Lunch Break** as the **Task Category**. 4. Under **Recurring Time**, set the **Frequency** to the days the break repeats — for example, Monday through Friday — and set the **First Occurrence** date. 5. Set the **Start Time** and **End Time** to the fixed break window. 6. Under **Assignment**, add the **Team Members** the break applies to. The Create Job dropdown open on the Team Schedule with Job, Recurring Job, Task, and Recurring Task listed, and Recurring Task highlighted The Create Recurring Task form with Type set to Recurring Task, Task Category set to Lunch Break, a Frequency and First Occurrence under Recurring Time, Start Time 12:00 PM and End Time 12:30 PM, and technicians listed under Assignment The break now shows on each assigned technician's schedule. ## Track lunch with clock-out notes A clock-out note tags a break on the technician's timesheet, and the note carries through to timesheet reporting so you can pick lunch entries out of the day. Use it when technicians take lunch at different times and already use clock in and clock out. ### Record the break 1. When lunch starts, the technician clocks out using the standard **Clock Out** process in the FieldPulse mobile app. 2. Before finalizing the clock out, the technician adds a **Note** — for example, "Lunch". A Time Log entry open on its Clock Out section, with Lunch Time entered in the Notes field and Save at the bottom of the panel ### Pull the breaks into reporting 1. Go to **Reporting** and open the **Timesheets** tab. 2. Select **Columns** and turn on **Clock Out Notes**. Each tagged break then appears in the **Clock Out Notes** column next to that entry's **Duration**, so lunch time is visible alongside the rest of the day. For more on building these reports, see [How to Create Timesheet Reports](/reporting/raw-data/timesheet-reports). The Timesheets tab in Reporting with the Columns panel open, Clock Out Notes checked, and a row showing Lunch in the Clock Out Notes column ## Track lunch with separate timesheets Separate timesheets split a technician's general time at work from the time they spend on specific jobs, and lunch is recorded on the general timesheet. Use it when you need those two kinds of time kept apart. ### Turn on the two timesheet system 1. Go to **Company Settings** > **Features & Plugins**. 2. On the **Employee Timesheets** card, select **Settings**. 3. Under **Separate Timesheets for Job and General Tracking**, select **Use two timesheet system for separate Job and general tracking**. 4. Select **Save**. The Employee Timesheets card in Company Settings under Features and Plugins, with Disable and Settings buttons and the Settings button highlighted The Timesheets Settings page with the Separate Timesheets for Job and General Tracking dropdown open on Use two timesheet system for separate Job and general tracking ### How technicians use the two timesheets * **General** records paid time worked across the day — the start of the day, the end of the day, and unpaid breaks and lunch. Technicians clock out and back in on this timesheet for lunch. * **Job Tracking** records clocking in and out of specific jobs. Team Timesheets then shows **General** and **Job Tracking** as separate views, so the two kinds of time stay distinct. Team Timesheets with the General and Job Tracking toggle above the team list, set to Job Tracking ## Still need help? Reach the [FieldPulse support team](https://www.fieldpulse.com/company/contact-us) at [support@fieldpulse.com](mailto:support@fieldpulse.com) or through the chat feature in the bottom-right corner of your screen. ## Related articles * [How to Use Employee Timesheets](/jobs/timesheets/employee-timesheets) * [How to Create a Task](/jobs/jobs-tasks/creating-a-task) * [How to Create Timesheet Reports](/reporting/raw-data/timesheet-reports) * [Setting Up Working Hours for Multi-Day Jobs](/scheduling-dispatch/working-hours/multi-day-jobs) * [Setting Up the Default Calendar Start Date](/scheduling-dispatch/working-hours/default-calendar-start-date) * [Availability & Scheduling Overview](/scheduling-dispatch/availability/overview) You're tracking lunch breaks when each technician's lunch shows up where you expect it — blocked on the schedule, tagged in the **Clock Out Notes** column, or recorded on the **General** timesheet — and your job hours reflect time actually spent on jobs. ## Related topics - [Setting Up the Default Calendar Start Date](/scheduling-dispatch/working-hours/default-calendar-start-date.md) - [How to Create Timesheet Reports](/reporting/raw-data/timesheet-reports.md) - [Setting Up Working Hours for Multi-Day Jobs](/scheduling-dispatch/working-hours/multi-day-jobs.md) - [Working Hours & Calendar](/scheduling-dispatch/working-hours/index.md)