What should a subcontractor's daywork docket record?

What a docket is for

A daywork docket records time and materials for work charged on that basis. Business.gov.au says contract changes can be made verbally but are best put in writing and signed, that a court can enforce an agreed variation, and that building and construction variations should be checked against state or territory rules. Treat the docket as evidence of what was done, not approval to do it.

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Fields to record

This layout is our recommendation, not a mandated form.

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Daywork docket you can copy

Replace every square bracket. Do not put rates on the docket unless your contract says to.

DAYWORK DOCKET
Docket no.: [0000]   Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]   Site: [address, area]
Contract or order reference: [ref]   Task or variation reference: [ref]
Work authorised by: [name, role] on [DD/MM/YYYY] via [verbal / email / written variation]

Crew and hours:
[name] | [start] to [finish] | break [minutes] | [task]

Work done: [description]
Rates apply under: [contract clause, quote or variation reference]
Materials: [item] x [qty]   Plant: [item] [hours]
Photos: [number and location on the job record]
Exceptions: [delays, access problems, work by others, hazards]

Acknowledged as received by: [name, role, date]
Subcontractor: [name, date]

This docket is not a variation approval or an invoice.

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After the docket

Match each invoice line to the docket and variation reference. Business.gov.au says a contract can specify what an invoice shows, such as the description of services and costs, so quote the docket number on the invoice. Keep dockets and photos with the job; most business records are kept for 5 years, and digital copies are acceptable.

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Common questions

What does a job sheet include?

For daywork, a job sheet should record who authorised the work, the site and date, the task or variation reference, crew and hours, materials and plant, photos, exceptions and an acknowledgement. Rates and variation approval stay in your contract or written variation. Keep the sheet with the job to support the invoice.[1][2]