How to Log Work in Jira: Quick Guide

Organizations require Jira time tracking features to obtain the following benefits:

• accurate project management
• best resource allocation results.

This guide provides straightforward documentation methods to track Jira work tasks, which lead to immediate team performance and productivity improvements.

Methods to Log Work in Jira

The issue tracking tool Jira delivers strong capabilities to enhance workflow while functioning as the best project management system.

For users, there are several proven methods to log work.

Log Work via the Issue Screen

Accuracy in logging your work when using Jira is crucial for two obvious reasons:

• project tracking
• team visibility.

The issue screen method delivers direct and effective results in time recording.

Log Work in a Few Clicks

Follow this brief sequence after finishing your work on a task:

• Access the particular Jira issue that you completed work on
• Click the "..." (more) button in the top-right corner
• To log work, select "Log work" from the available options.

Complete the time entry form:

• You can enter time spent (use formats like "1h 30m" or "90m")
• You should verify the date started (defaults to today)
• For project tracking purposes, you can add a brief description of what you completed ( it is optional but recommended).

If you need to handle the remaining estimate:

• Leave as is (if an estimate is still accurate)
• Reduce manually (if you've made progress, but work remains)
• Set to zero (if the task is complete)
• The last step is to click "Log" to save your work entry.

How to Manage Time Estimates Effectively 

When you log work hours in Jira, it automatically adjusts remaining time when you log work, but stay proactive with your estimates:

• You should manually update your remaining estimates to achieve better team planning during scope changes and new subtasks.
• For complex issues, track time at the subtask level for more granular reporting
  Subtask time entry automatically propagates towards the parent task total effort measurement, which provides a detailed comprehension of overall work duration.

When users master how to add work log in Jira, they can optimize their work activities using the built-in features of the Issue screen.

The Jira issue screen provides multiple advanced features that simplify your work logging process.

☑️The team maintains full control over screen presentation by selecting necessary fields, so reporting work becomes faster and easier.

☑️Various fields display automatically when an issue reaches specific statuses for better information accuracy during different phases of development.

☑️Staff receive necessary fields and default entry values in Smart Field Configuration to minimize manual work and avoid info voids.

☑️The creation and editing of issues take place on different screens through Screen Schemes, which enable proper context for each task.

☑️The system protects valuable information through field-level authorization, which permits employees to document their work activities.

Log Work via TMetric

TMetric offers time-tracking integration for Jira that provides advantages in project, task, and time management.

How to Track Time in JIRA with TMetric

• Open an Issue in JIRA where you want to track time.
• Click the TMetric Start Timer button that appears on the JIRA issue page.
  The timer begins adding time logs to the designated issue.
• Use the issue as normal until completion, then press the Stop Timer button, which can be accessed through both the issue interface and your TMetric dashboard.
• The JIRA issue receives an automatic save of the entered time directly in TMetric.
• Users can enhance time entry tracking in TMetric through Note and Description additions.
• Provide the total duration you devoted to work in standard time measurement (for example, 1h 30m, or 90m).
• Choose the initial start date of your issue work.
• You can also include a short summary of activities performed at this time.

Manual Time Logging in TMetric

• Manual entry of time duration is possible through the TMetric platform when you did not use a timer for the task.
• The Time Entries page in your TMetric account can be accessed through this step.
• Click Add Time Entry.
• Choose the JIRA project followed by the selection of an issue.
• Enter the work duration together with the work description into the log entry.
• Manual entry of time records happens when you select Save on the interface.

Additional Tips

• The log work feature can be activated speedily through dot (.). This is one of many keyboard shortcuts that are available
• Your application needs Time Tracking Settings enabled for the JIRA project since logging work becomes unavailable without this option.
• The logged time remains accessible through the issue activity section, together with the work log tab.

Best Practices for Using TMetric with JIRA

⏳You should activate the timer right when you begin work and deactivate it when you finish to maintain precise time recordkeeping.

⏳Users can add labels to indicate billability in TMetric whenever necessary for client billing purposes.

⏳Organize time entries with Tagging of Tasks in TMetric to enhance reporting capabilities and analyze activity better.

Viewing Jira Work Log Report in TMetric

Types of TMetric Reports

📃Team Summary Report functions as a format that displays the complete time records from each team member, including work entries from JIRA issues.

📃This report presents JIRA project time distribution and shows time entries grouped by their associated tasks.

📃The Detailed Time Report features a detailed list that contains JIRA issue references and time duration and added notes from team members.

Generating Reports

Users should navigate to the Reports section inside TMetric.

In TMetric reports assume one of three possible formats: Team Summary, Project Summary or Detailed Report.

The filtering process includes enabling Date Range options alongside setting JIRA Projects along with defining Team Members.

The report can be displayed after clicking Generate.

You can transform reports into Excel or PDF files to distribute them between stakeholders while maintaining the ability to conduct additional analysis.

Customizing Reports

• Use filters to view time logged only for specific JIRA issues.
• Group time entries by labels, billable status, or specific team members.
• Adjust the view to weekly or monthly summaries to analyze trends over time.

Managing Time Entries and Adjustments

Editing Logged Time

In TMetric, users can adjust the duration of time entries if needed:

1. Navigate to the Time Entries page in TMetric.
2. Find the time entry linked to the JIRA issue.
3. Click Edit and adjust the time or description as required.
4. Click Save to update the changes.

Deleting Time Entries

To remove incorrect time logs:

1. Go to the Time Entries page.
2. Locate the specific entry for a JIRA issue.
3. Click the Trash Icon next to the entry to delete it.

Locking Time Entries for Approvals:

• TMetric allows administrators to lock time entries after a certain period to prevent further changes.
• This is useful for billing and payroll, ensuring that time entries remain accurate after submission.

Billing and Invoicing Features

Tracking Billable Time in JIRA:

• Mark time entries as billable or non-billable directly in TMetric while tracking time on JIRA issues.
• This helps in generating invoices based on the time spent on different JIRA projects.

Generating Invoices:

• Use the Billing section in TMetric to create invoices based on time tracked in JIRA.
• Customize the invoice with your client’s information, time entries, and rates.
• Export the invoice in PDF format for easy sharing with clients.

Notifications and Reminders

🔔Enable Reminders in TMetric to ensure users start and stop timers when beginning or finishing work in JIRA.

• Set up alerts for exceeding time budgets on specific JIRA projects, ensuring projects stay within the estimated time frames.

Permissions and Access Control in TMetric

User Roles in TMetric:

• Admin: Can manage integrations, view all reports, and edit time entries.
• User: Can track time and view their own entries.
• Manager: Can view and edit time entries of the team, and generate reports.
• Restricting Access to Time Data:
• Set permissions for who can see billing information and detailed time logs to maintain confidentiality.

Benefits of Using TMetric and JIRA Integration

The system functions as an interconnected environment where TMetric time tracker, a decision-shaping collaborator for vital business choices, and Jira project management tools unite their capabilities.

Furthermore, the TMetric-Jira integration creates a bridge between assigned work and measurement of time utilization for better business performance.

The tool enables users to obtain detailed observations about project performance. Users can precisely track time spent on Jira tasks through TMetric, so they obtain clear measurements of task dedications.

💡Data-driven analyses about project developments and resource deployment can be executed without uncertainty thanks to this system.

Best Practices for Logging Work

How to log work in Jira for best results: Project Tracking Fundamentals

Log time regularly: Working daily produces better time results than making weekly projections.

Be consistent: Every member of the team needs to use hours and minutes as their standard unit choice.

Include comments: Make sure to record the work activities you completed during that logged time period.

Link to relevant commits: The time work log entries need direct associations with real programming modifications.

Workflow Tips

Begin new work by marking the status as "In Progress" for every task.

Instead of postponing time log entries until the conclusion of the day or week, you should record log entries immediately after finishing work.

The JIRA mobile application allows users to track their time while working outside their office desk.

You should evaluate time tracking platforms that link up with JIRA software system.

Estimation Improvements

Future planning will benefit from the analysis of estimated times versus actual spent times.

To achieve precise tracking, break major assignments into multiple little subtasks.

Story points should be used during sprint planning, but detailed time tracking must be measured in hours.

Team members should examine their time records while participating in sprint retrospective meetings.

Team Coordination

The team must develop uniform procedures to track time usage.

Your system should have built-in workflow systems that ask employees to log their time when certain status changes occur.

The visualization of team capacity along with workload should rely on dashboard technology.

How Logged Work Is Used

How to use Jira log work? Logging work into JIRA delivers significant functions in four main categories.

Time Tracking and Reporting

• Provides data for time-based reports
• Actual working time can be tracked against the initially estimated hours for each JIRA issue
• Tracking work in JIRA enables the system to develop historical data, which enhances future estimation performance
• Burndown charts and sprint metrics can be enabled within this system.

Project Management

• Project managers receive complete visibility into how team members spend their work hours through tracking systems.
• The system enables team leaders to detect operational constraints that might need additional team support.
• Supports capacity planning for teams.
• Workload management becomes more efficient because team members work equally.

Billing and Client Accountability

• Provides documentation for billable hours
• The system establishes trails for audit purposes that document client work activities
• Supports invoicing for time-based contracts
• Helps justify costs to stakeholders

Process Improvement

• The system helps teams detect operational inefficiencies together with frequent recurring problems they encounter.
• Provides data for retrospective meetings
• The system reveals which activities occupy members' work time
• Supports continuous improvement initiatives
• Jira automated log work enables teams to gain useful information that provides accurate predictions and enhances resource distribution between teams.

5 Best Tools to Log Work in Jira

If your organization requires more robust solutions for time tracking in JIRA, the list below is for you. It presents five leading Jira time tracking tools that guarantee calculation accuracy and stress-free work logging in JIRA.

TMetric

Effortless time tracking and accurate reporting directly from JIRA

This tool provides clear direction and progress tracking for JIRA sprints, facilitating effective workflow management even in complex projects.

Key Features

• It offers URL and app tracking
• There is an option for screenshot capturing
• TMetric tracks activity levels
• Calculations can be used for accurate payroll
• Billing and invoicing are available with a click
• It has a wide reporting functionality ( you can get an itemized list of time entries, including the JIRA issue reference, time duration, and notes)
• Users can apply filters for Date Range, Project (JIRA Projects), and Team Members.
• Time Off management becomes a breeze with a built-in time off module
• Managers and teams can easily use the integration for efficient scheduling
• The app is available across platforms (web, desktop, mobile, browser extensions)

Integration Capabilities

TMetric provides convenient integration with Jira, which lets users monitor their time within Jira tickets. Two-way synchronization enables time entry data in TMetric to display in Jira and also in TMetric.

Pricing

• Free tier for individuals
• Professional: $5-7/user/month

Pros

• Intuitive user interface requiring minimal training
• Comprehensive reporting capabilities
• Excellent cross-platform support
• Good value for professional teams

Cons

• More advanced features like automatic time detection only available in paid tiers

Best For

It will ideally suit dev teams that look for a straightforward, affordable time tracking solution with solid Jira integration.

Tempo

Resource planning and project budgeting

The time tracking and project management capabilities of Tempo for JIRA extend JIRA by adding features to log times compared to normal features and create reports while helping with resource scheduling and financial control processes.

Key Features

• It delivers advanced timesheet management with approval workflows
• Tempo offers resource planning tools, which will help teams optimize time utilization
• There is an option for cost tracking and budgeting
• It has functions for customizable reports with export functionality
• Users can succeed in account management for client billing
• It also offers team calendar views

Integration Capabilities

Among the popular Jira time tracking add-ons, Tempo provides deep integration with Jira's core functionality. It creates a seamless user experience.

Pricing

Tempo Timesheets is available for $10/user/month (Cloud)

Pros

• It offers a comprehensive suite of time management tools
• Tempo introduces enterprise-level reporting and analytics
• It gets strong approval workflows for larger organizations
• It provides extensive community support

Cons

• It has a high price point for an increased number of users
• It can feel overbloated and feature-heavy for small teams with simple needs
• It has a steeper learning curve for full functionality utilization

Best For

It will suit medium to large enterprises that search for robust time tracking with approval workflows and resource planning capabilities.

Activity Timeline

Enhanced visibility of the workflow

Issue activity tracking becomes more straightforward with Activity Timeline because it showcases chronological changes made by team members through a visual interface.

Key Features

• It has a visual timeline interface for team scheduling
• There are multiple drag-and-drop scheduling functions to choose from
• It offers capacity planning tools
• Managers get workload visualization across team members
• It offers custom views by project, team, or individual
• Users get access to resource allocation analytics

Integration Capabilities

Activity Timeline integrates directly into the Jira interface, – it primarily focuses on visual planning and scheduling rather than traditional time logging.

It complements the existing time tracking option within JIRA and adds powerful visualization opportunities for users.

Pricing

It costs $10 per month (Cloud)

Pros

• It offers an outstanding visual representation of teamwork workloads
• Users praise its intuitive drag-and-drop interface
• It is excellent for identifying resource bottlenecks
• It has strong forward-looking planning capabilities

Cons

• It is more focused on planning than retrospective time tracking
• There is less emphasis on reporting compared to other tools

Best For

Teams that need strong visual scheduling, capacity planning, and basic time tracking – it will be particularly useful for project managers overseeing multiple resources.

Timesheet Tracking

Seamless tracking and JIRA updating

It greatly aids in task navigation and progress monitoring, supporting efficient workflow management.

Key Features

• It offers a simplified timesheet interface and focuses on weekly views
• It unlocks approval workflows for managers
• There are customizable fields for time entries
• The integration provides export capabilities for efficient payroll and billing
• Users can track overtime and break time.

Integration Capabilities

The Timesheet Tracking system brings together Jira issues and presents its time entry functionality via an easy-to-use timesheet format.

The system runs in a tidy, minimalist design, yet includes valuable features for recording time duration.

Pricing

Free for up to 10 users. For 11 users and above, the price increases to $10 or more, depending on the number of users.

Pros

• The system provides users with a simple along recognizable timesheet display interface.
• The system features affordable rates and costs.
• Users can learn how this system operates without difficulty
• The system provides standard timekeeping functionalities without complex additional elements.

Cons

• The feature set of this product remains basic when compared to alternative premium versions
• Its reporting capacity is limited
• There are fewer customization options.

Best For

Teams that need a simple and cost-effective timesheet solution.

WorklogPRO

Effective time tracking within your existing workflow

WorklogPRO for JIRA delivers simplified time tracking features that generate comprehensive data about project developments together with resource distribution.

Key Features

• It offers a calendar-based time entry interface
• It provides detailed work logs with custom fields
• There are flexible reporting options
• It introduces time estimation analysis against the actual time usage analysis
• Users can enjoy the bulk time entry capabilities of the tool
• It also offers a customizable reminder system.

Integration Capabilities

WorkLog Pro provides tight integration with Jira's native time tracking, – it enhances it with more comprehensive logging options and reporting capabilities while maintaining the familiar Jira interface.

Pricing

It is free for up to 10 users. When the number of users reaches 11 or more, the price is $19.80 per month.

Pros

• The integration enriches the teams with developer-friendly time logging
• You can easily catch up on time tracking with multiple time entries
• Through the system of reminders, it provides consistent time logging.

Cons

• The interface can feel a little bit dated compared to more modern alternatives
• If you need advanced reports, it will require configuration

Best For

Teams that look for a solid time tracking solution with strong reporting capabilities and features for complex workflows.

Conclusion

Time tracking effectiveness within JIRA creates fundamental requirements for project success and team productivity, along with accurate billing needs.

Your organization will benefit from a time tracking solution that shows Jira workflow compatibility through seamless integration.

A suitable time tracking solution, whether based on Jira natively or coming from dedicated add-ons that we listed above, will help your team achieve more transparent workflows and get an estimation for tasks and projects. This is an essential step in building data-driven leadership.

Your choice should factor in:

• team size
• budget limitations
• reporting needs
• specialized functionality.

Organizations that establish appropriate time tracking systems will achieve higher productivity and better resource management with guaranteed project success for teams and businesses.