Comparisons · 3 min read
App versus wall-mounted time clock
Short answer
The wall-mounted time clock records whoever walks past it. The app records each person wherever they are. If your whole team works in one place, both work; if not, the time clock leaves people out.
| Topic | Wall-mounted time clock | App |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | One device per branch | Each person's phone |
| Opening another branch | Buy and install another device | Register it and print its QR code |
| Remote or field work | Only records whoever walks past the device | Each person records wherever they are |
| Day, night and overtime hours | Depends on the model | Separated in each record |
| Corrections | Depends on the model | With a reason and an author, without deleting the original |
When the time clock makes sense
A single workplace, staff without phones and fixed shifts.
When the app makes sense
Several branches, field work, remote work or growth.
The reform in one minute
The reform has two parts. On March 3, 2026, article 123 of the Constitution was amended to set the 40-hour workweek. On May 1, 2026, the Federal Labor Law was amended, which is where the detail is.
- The maximum working week drops from 48 to 40 hours, two hours per year, between 2027 and 2030.
- Overtime has a weekly cap: it is paid at double time up to the cap and at triple time for up to 4 more hours.
- Each company must electronically record the start and end time of each person's workday.
- Not keeping that record is fined 250 to 5,000 UMA.
- Salary and benefits cannot go down because of the reduction in hours.
What remains pending are the STPS general rules, which will define who the record applies to and what exceptions there will be. They take effect on January 1, 2027.
| Year | Maximum working hours | Double-time overtime | Triple-time overtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 48 h | 9 h | 4 h |
| 2027 | 46 h | 9 h | 4 h |
| 2028 | 44 h | 10 h | 4 h |
| 2029 | 42 h | 11 h | 4 h |
| 2030 | 40 h | 12 h | 4 h |
Decree published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on May 1, 2026, second and fourth transitory provisions, and article 68 of the LFT. Each change applies from January 1.
Common mistakes
- Comparing the purchase price and not the cost of operating.
- Not testing the tool with the real team.
- Forgetting the staff who do not work on site.
- Not asking how an error is corrected.
- Not checking how data is downloaded if you change providers.
What to do now
- Note how your team works: on site, in the field or remotely.
- Define which report you need to deliver.
- Try two options for a week.
- Ask the team which one they used without help.
- Check how you export your data.
Related terms
What is REPSE. REPSE is the STPS registry required of every company that provides specialized services or work to another company with its own staff.
Minimum wage in Mexico: how much it is and how it is used. The minimum wage is the least a person can receive for a workday.
Mixed shift: what it is and how long it lasts. A mixed shift combines day and night hours, as long as the night hours are less than three and a half.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine them?
Yes, with a shared tablet for anyone who does not use their phone.
Is the maximum workday per day or per week?
There are two limits: a daily one, which did not change, and a weekly one, which drops from 48 to 40 hours between 2027 and 2030.
Is overtime counted by week?
Yes. The cap on double-time overtime is weekly and per person.
Can someone work more than 12 hours in a day?
No. The sum of ordinary and overtime hours cannot exceed 12 hours per day.
Does salary go down if fewer hours are worked?
No. The reform prohibits lowering wages and benefits because of the reduction in working hours.
Legal basis and sources
- Electronic working-time record: article 132, section XXXIV, of the LFT and fifth transitory provision of the decree.
- Decree amending the Federal Labor Law on the reduction of the working week. Official Gazette of the Federation, May 1, 2026.
- Federal Labor Law, current text. Chamber of Deputies.
How we write this content. The Sicheca team writes it from the official text of the law. When something is not yet defined by the authority, we say so. It is general information and does not replace the advice of a lawyer or an accountant.