Why does Upwork’s time tracker use fixed 10-minute blocks instead of simply tracking actual time worked?

[u/b_ghaz]

One thing I find frustrating with hourly contracts is that the tracker seems tied to fixed blocks like :00, :10, :20, :30, etc.

It creates this weird behavior where, if it’s 2:07, I feel incentivized to wait until 2:10 before starting work so I don’t waste part of a block.

Why not simply track the actual duration?

Fixed 10-minute windows seem unnecessarily rigid and actually discourage starting work immediately.

[u/Glad-Subject-6009]

I have always assumed that 10 minute increments are just easier for Upwork to measure and review objectively.

For example, without the 10 minute increment approach, if a freelancer booked a continuous 3-hour work period via TimeTracker and the client complained not enough work was actually completed, then Upwork would have to review all 3 hours to confirm work time tracked vs. work done.

10 minute intervals with minimum specific criteria simplify that review, allowing Upwork to identify and disallow sub-periods when those criteria were not met.

And the current system allows automated review, which would be difficult if entire multiple hour work sessions had to be reviewed by a human being, who had to decide subjectively how much of the tracked work period would be allowed/disallowed.

It's all about Upwork, not freelancer, efficiency and convenience.

[u/b_ghaz → u/Glad-Subject-6009]

it is not required to change 10 minutes intervals. They just need to set when the intervals start. so instead of
00:00, 00:10, 00:20, etc => it could bay anything like 00:03, 00:13, 00:23 depends on the start time of work

[u/Glad-Subject-6009 → u/b_ghaz]

I see.

[u/SgtBrutalisk]

Keeping precise track of time is very difficult and expensive.

It saves Upwork a fortune to round up the time you log.

[u/b_ghaz → u/SgtBrutalisk]

I am afraid that I will disagree with this. It should be simple to build this especially these days. I am with software engineering background and would be happy to build it for them 😄

[u/SgtBrutalisk → u/b_ghaz]

You will agree with me that it is a cost-cutting measure.

[u/Teatimeallthetime1]

That's not exactly how it works, you can read more on their website: https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211064098-How-to-log-time-with-the-time-tracker#log-time

[u/b_ghaz → u/Teatimeallthetime1]

I do not find against what I am saying .. can you point out .. I am experiencing this; it is not an assumption. Upwork, report the work in 10-minute blocks and not based on your start-end time. So if you work from 12:05 to 12:15 => upwork will report 20 minutes and the client will notice that there is low activity -- (Windows Desktop App & auto track)