What to do when your timesheet is stuck in "Awaiting Approval"

Last updated: July 23, 2026

If your timesheet shows a status of Awaiting Approval, this means your hours have been submitted but have not yet been reviewed by your designated approver. This is a normal part of the payroll process. Below is what you need to know and what steps to take if approval is delayed.

When are timesheets typically approved?

Timesheet approvals are generally processed by end of day on Tuesdays. If your timesheet is still showing "Awaiting Approval" after that time, please reach out to the Ascen support team for assistance.

What if my approver is unavailable or out of office?

If your regular timesheet approver is out of office or otherwise unavailable, there are a couple of options to keep your payment on track:

  1. Designate a backup approver: Ask your staffing agency or manager to identify an alternate approver (such as a supervisor or manager covering for the absent approver). The Ascen team can send the timesheet approval request to that person.

  2. Manual approval via email: If a backup approver cannot be set up in the system right away, the approver can confirm approval by replying to an email with the word "Approved." The Ascen support team can then manually mark the hours as approved and process your payment.

What if there is a discrepancy in my hours?

If there is a question about the number of hours logged, the approver or staffing agency should clarify the expected hours before approval is granted. Significant discrepancies (generally 30 or more minutes, not including breaks) should be flagged to the Ascen support team for review.

What if my timesheet was submitted late?

If you submitted your timesheet after the deadline, contact the Ascen support team as soon as possible. In many cases, late submissions can still be approved and paid on time for the current pay cycle.

How to contact Ascen support

If your timesheet has been awaiting approval longer than expected, or if your approver is unavailable, please reach out to the Ascen support team directly:

When contacting support, please provide the pay period dates and any relevant details about your approver's availability so the team can assist you as quickly as possible.