Hourly employees have a problem with time clocks. They feel somehow regulated and disrespected.
But, keeping accurate records of time and attendance is important to any business that uses one. That’s among the reasons business are turning to online time clocks to replace their old mechanical systems.
Why employees resist punching in and out –
According to Curt Finch writing for HR Crossing.com, there are at least five reasons workers dislike time systems:
- First, keeping time means being kept. It’s a status issue that distinguishes blue-collar from white-collar.
- Second, they fear their productivity per hours worked will not reflect well.
- Third, they want to be valued for more than time put in.
- Four, the whole effort is worthless because it can be manipulated.
- Five, it’s demoralizing when you know others have falsified their time reports.
So, to the extent that a time and attendance system has any wiggle room, on-the-clock workers will misreport, manipulate, or fake their input.
What your business needs –
No two businesses are the same – even in the same industry sector. They vary in purpose, size, volume, number of employees, and other ways.
For example, in a blog for Clockspot, Brittany Thompson wrote about the value of an online time clock, a time card calculator with lunch breaks and other authorized time off.
You simply don’t want to overbuy when shopping. You’ll want to focus on just what the software is intended to do for your business and your staff. For instance, you may not need all the attractive features advertised, but you do need the option to expand and grow the system as your business grows.
You should avoid being impressed by the software ingenuity and keep your eye on its functionality, user-friendliness, and ability to integrate with other administrative and operations databases.
When a business chooses an online time clock –
According to Thomas Oppong, writing for alltopstartups.com, “When a business decides to use an online time clock, they are making a decision for efficiency.” At first glance, this means they have a reliable metric to measure productivity.
Of course, they need an accurate record to calculate wages and overtime. But, they also need an effective and accurate connection with payroll and taxes. They need a metric that supports budgeting and strategizing.
What online time clocks offer over mechanical clocks and time sheets is their ability to make time keeping easier for the employee.
An online time clock, for instance, is accessible from any device anywhere you can access the Internet. It’s just so much easier to report time in and out, lunch and break times, sick days, vacation, and approved leaves of absence.
You might consider the advantage to businesses with multiple locations, several time shifts, and workers out of state. An online system is invaluable to landscaping crews, construction projects, retail operations, and more.
Depending on the authorization determined by Human Resources and senior management, managers, supervisors, and employees can view the hours reported. Awareness of the hours accumulated might have a real-time impact on budget assessment.
How to make that decision –
No manual reporting or mechanical timekeeping devices offer the accuracy, efficiency, and ROI as a quality online time clock.
There is convenience in its working through any online device, and there is security in strict limitation to authorized devices and phone numbers.
It provides the data needed to monitor and assess progress on tasks assigned, and it enables collaboration as a shared system.
It not only reports hours to payroll, but it also facilitates job costing. And, it requires no installation or additional equipment since it resides on line.
The online time clock opportunity makes work easier and helps convince employees of their value.
