Timesheet redaction is the removal of personal identifiers from an attendance record. Working Time Regulations 1998 reg. 4(1) caps average weekly working time at 48 hours over a 17-week reference period. Reg. 5 lets a worker opt out in writing. Reg. 9 makes the employer keep adequate records for two years. anonym.plus marks each name and reference on your device.
When this applies
The same sheet does two jobs. It evidences working time, and it evidences pay. National Minimum Wage Act 1998 s.9 needs documentation showing a worker was paid at least the minimum, kept six years for pay reference periods from 1 April 2021. The National Living Wage has applied from age 21 since 1 April 2024. Hours, a rate, and a name on one page say too much.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the sheet in anonym.plus on your device.
- Local OCR reads a scanned clock card if present.
- The tool flags the name, reference, and rate.
- Confirm the flags and keep hour totals intact.
- Swap or black out the marked items.
- Save the clean file locally.
What you need to provide
- The sheet (CSV, XLSX, PDF, or scan).
- An operator (Replace keeps the grid readable).
- Optional shared map so one worker maps to one alias.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | row K. Abbott → [WORKER] |
| Identifiers | UK_NINO | NI number → [NINO] |
| Financial | MONEY | rate £12.50/hr → [RATE] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | clock 08:02 → [TIME] |
| Location | LOCATION | site code → [SITE] |
| Contact | PHONE_NUMBER | +44 20 7946 0991 → [PHONE] |
Compliance achieved
- Supports the two-year record Working Time Regulations 1998 reg. 9 requires to show the reg. 4(1) 48-hour average limit is met.
- Keeps any written opt-out under WTR 1998 reg. 5 traceable, since it belongs to the individual who signed it.
- Fits the six-year pay documentation that National Minimum Wage Act 1998 s.9 requires from 1 April 2021.
- Leaves the hourly rate checkable against the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015, which set how each type of work is counted.
- Runs entirely offline, with local OCR for scanned clock cards.
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Limitations & cautions
A distinctive shift pattern identifies a person even after the name goes. The tool flags named items, not patterns. Reg. 9 asks for records adequate to show the limit is met rather than a log of every worker's daily hours — but keep whatever you actually rely on.
Frequently asked questions
How long must working time records be kept?
Two years under Working Time Regulations 1998 reg. 9. Minimum wage pay documentation runs longer: six years under National Minimum Wage Act 1998 s.9 for pay reference periods from 1 April 2021.
Does an opt-out remove the record duty?
No. A reg. 5 opt-out lifts the 48-hour average limit for that worker. The employer still keeps records, and the signed opt-out is itself personal data about a named individual.
Can the tool read a scanned clock card?
Yes. Local OCR reads the image first, then flags the worker's name, reference, and rate for review before anything is removed.