# What do the timesheet statuses mean (Draft, Submitted, Locked, Processed)?

> Timesheets move through four statuses: Draft (employee edits) → Submitted (awaiting manager review) → Locked (approved) → Processed (final payroll record, irreversible). Managers can unlock back to Draft or Submitted when corrections are needed.

- Product: WorkSkedge
- Section: Timesheets & Time Tracking
- Canonical: https://workskedge.com/help/timesheets/timesheet-statuses-submit-lock-process
- Updated: 2026-08-29T21:34:24.305643+00:00
- Source: TIMESHEETS.md — Status Workflow, Key Concepts
- Keywords: timesheet status, draft, submitted, locked, processed, approve timesheet, unlock, payroll

## The lifecycle

```
Draft → Submitted → Locked → Processed
```

| Status | What it means | Who can edit |
|---|---|---|
| Draft | Initial editable state | Employee |
| Submitted | Pending manager review | No one (manager can unlock) |
| Locked | Approved, ready for processing | No one (manager can unlock) |
| Processed | Finalized for payroll | No one — permanent record |

## Each status in detail

**Draft** — the initial state for all timesheets. The employee can add, edit, and delete entries, add notes, and the total hours auto-calculate from entries.

**Submitted** — the timesheet is awaiting manager review. Submitting records the `submitted_at` timestamp and who submitted it, and the employee can no longer edit. A manager can lock it (approve) or unlock it back to Draft for corrections.

**Locked** — approved and ready for processing. Locking records `locked_at` and `locked_by`. It can still be unlocked if corrections are needed. This is typically the final review before payroll.

**Processed** — finalized for payroll and a permanent record. Processing records `processed_at` and `processed_by`, and **cannot be reversed** — it represents time included in a payroll run.

## Who can do what

| From | To | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Draft | Submitted | Employee or Manager |
| Submitted | Draft | Manager (unlock/revert) |
| Submitted | Locked | Manager (approve) |
| Locked | Submitted | Manager (unlock) |
| Locked | Processed | Manager (process for payroll) |

Every transition records a timestamp and the person who performed it, giving you a complete audit trail.

## Screenshots

- Manage Timesheets page showing Employees Submitted, Submitted, Locked and Processed counters above the weekly grid: https://workskedge.com/api/public/help-image/app/manage-timesheets.webp

## FAQ

### Can a processed timesheet be changed?

No. Processed is the final state — it cannot be reversed. Make all corrections before processing by unlocking back to Submitted or Draft.

### Who can unlock a timesheet?

Managers only. Unlocking returns a Submitted timesheet to Draft, or a Locked one to Submitted, so corrections can be made.

### What does locking a timesheet mean?

Locking is the manager approval step — it marks the timesheet as reviewed and ready for payroll processing, and records who locked it and when.

### Can a manager submit a timesheet on an employee's behalf?

Yes — both employees and managers can move a timesheet from Draft to Submitted.