Across Europe, compliance rules around time tracking just got tougher — and the penalties, steeper. Yet many executive teams still treat time like a back-office function instead of a strategic asset. That’s a missed opportunity.
For forward-thinking executives, time tracking isn’t about logging hours. It’s about aligning effort with business priorities, spotting inefficiencies early, and staying compliant in a highly regulated environment.
To help leaders take control, Appfire and Life in Codes created a practical resource:
The executive’s time tracking checklist: 5 questions to validate your investment
This quick-read checklist helps you assess whether your current time tracking solution is driving ROI, supporting compliance, and scaling with your business.
Spoiler: It all leads to a powerful, proven solution for Jira users — 7pace Timetracker.
Why time tracking is a strategic imperative in Europe
Following a 2019 ruling by the European Court of Justice, time tracking has shifted from a management preference to a legal obligation across the EU.
Employers must accurately track all working hours — including breaks and overtime — and retain these records in accordance with local requirements. Non-compliance can lead to steep penalties, including fines up to €15,000 in some countries.
7pace Timetracker for Jira is designed to help European organizations meet these mandates with confidence. It offers:
- Secure, GDPR-compliant data handling
- Comprehensive reporting for audits and reviews
- Clear visibility into hours worked, breaks, and overtime
The interface integrates directly with Jira, encouraging consistent usage across teams. Customization options let you tailor the experience to your unique operations, helping you improve both productivity and compliance.
The executive checklist for smarter time tracking
This diagnostic checklist walks decision-makers through five critical dimensions:
- Compliance & security
- Adoption & productivity
- Business insights
- Scalability & integration
- ROI & cost effectiveness
Using a traffic light system, executives can quickly see where their current setup falls short and what to do next.
Where Jira’s time tracking stops, 7pace Timetracker steps in
Jira’s native time tracking covers the basics. But for scaling teams that need detailed time data, reporting flexibility, and audit readiness, it comes up short.
|
Feature |
Jira Native |
7pace Timetracker |
Why This Matters |
|
Log work on issues |
✅ |
✅ |
Ensures work is properly tracked at the issue level. |
|
Reports by date range |
⚠️ Limited |
✅ |
Enables accurate analysis and forecasting. |
|
Customizable reports (by Jira fields, filters, etc.) |
⚠️ Limited |
✅ |
Tailor insights to team and business needs. |
|
Track estimated vs. actual |
✅ |
✅ |
Drives better project planning. |
|
Duplicate worklogs |
❌ |
✅ |
Reduces manual work. |
|
Export time data |
⚠️ Limited |
✅ |
Supports finance, payroll, and budget reviews. |
|
Timesheet/calendar worklogs |
❌ |
✅ |
Offers flexibility in how teams track time. |
|
Log on behalf of others |
❌ |
✅ |
Ensures accurate, complete data when teams forget. |
|
Billable tags, categories, labels |
❌ |
✅ |
Enables client billing and internal costing. |
|
Advanced permissions |
⚠️ Limited |
✅ |
Protects data with role-based access. |
|
APIs for integrations |
❌ |
🚀 Coming Soon |
Future-ready connections to your tech stack. |
|
Lock past entries |
❌ |
🚀 Coming Soon |
Supports audit-readiness and compliance. |
|
Capacity tracking |
❌ |
✅ |
Informs strategic resource allocation. |
|
Calendar integrations |
❌ |
🚀 Coming Soon |
Makes logging time effortless. |
Bottom line: If you're looking for basic time tracking, Jira delivers. If you need a strategic, scalable system that meets European regulatory demands and supports modern operations, 7pace Timetracker is the clear next step.
The strategic case for action
As an executive, you already track financials, product performance, and customer satisfaction. Why leave your most valuable asset — your team’s time — unoptimised?
7pace Timetracker brings structure, visibility, and compliance to your time tracking practice. The benefits reach across your organization:
- Finance & operations: Support accurate budgeting, billing, and cost recovery.
- Project managers: Improve estimation accuracy and resource planning.
- Leadership: Get insight into where time is spent and how to align effort with strategic goals.
- Individual contributors: Gain clarity with calendar views and issue-level visibility.
The executive checklist from Appfire and Life in Codes is your starting point.
Download the checklist. Spot the gaps in your current time tracking system — and take the next step toward strategic clarity with 7pace Timetracker.
Because when you lead with time, you lead with confidence.
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