Construction - Daywork Recording and Billing

Confirm a written instruction or send written confirmation of a verbal instruction before operatives start. Record the scope, date, and payment basis - daywork rates per the contract.

Brief operatives on the scope of instructed work, recording requirements, and who on site is authorized to sign the daywork sheet. Confirm that signatures must be obtained before leaving site each day.

Complete the daywork sheet each day - labour section (name, trade, hours), materials section (description, quantity, unit cost), and plant section (equipment type, hours, rate). Include a description of the work carried out.

Obtain a signature from the site manager or client representative before operatives leave site. If refused, record the instruction-giver's name, photograph the work, and send written notice to the client that day.

Total all signed daywork sheets for the period. Attach to the relevant variation order or include in the application for payment. Issue the invoice or interim application covering the agreed daywork total.

Daywork sheets are filled in at the end of the week rather than on the day, making it nearly impossible to get client signatures - the claim gets disputed and payment is delayed or reduced.

Unsigned sheets are included in payment applications, giving the client or contract administrator grounds to query or reject amounts, often forcing a reduction in the interim payment.

Paper daywork records are kept separately from the job's financial record, so the running total of daywork value is not visible until the final account - too late to escalate disputes or adjust the programme cost plan.