Do you own or manage a business with many employees? How do you currently keep track of their attendance? If you’re still using old-fashioned methods of timekeeping like punch-in and out clocks or recording hours on a spreadsheet, you could be costing your business time and money. With today’s focus on flexibility and speed, new attendance methods have emerged that help owners and HR managers track attendance in efficient ways. Consider researching new attendance systems based on technology to see if they are the right fit for your company. For your consideration, here are some benefits of these systems and the best way to introduce them into your place of work.
Benefits of an Attendance Monitoring System
Technology in the workplace has helped us realize new levels of speed and accuracy in nearly all sectors. Attendance-keeping is just one of them. Here are just some of the benefits your company will be able to take advantage of if you choose one of these systems.
Fewer Errors and Oversights
If you have an outdated method for employees to keep track of their attendance, its effectiveness suffers. Employees may forget to clock in or out or report inflated hours they did not actually work. They may also ask their co-workers to clock in or out for them in a practice known as buddy-punching. HR managers can also make mistakes when adding up hours or calculating pay. This leads to distrust and reduced engagement.
An electronic attendance system is easy and convenient to use. Employees can simply clock in or out from their smart devices, making excuses a thing of the past. HR managers can also use the system to accurately track hours and pay, making paycheck mistakes obsolete.
Improved Flexibility
When you choose a biometric timekeeping method, employees can clock in or out from their personal smart devices. Many systems also allow them to manage their schedules and communicate with HR members right from the same platform. This increases flexibility and makes work-from-home and remote office situations feasible. The new generation of workers who are flooding the marketplace expects flexible work options that fit in with their lifestyles. When you incorporate this technology, you are not only making your current workers happier, but you are also sending a message to millennials who are searching for new jobs.
Integration Into Other Systems
How much time does your HR staff currently spend on payroll? If they are still trying to add up hours from a time clock or pick through spreadsheets, they are wasting valuable time and money. New attendance systems can be integrated into your payroll, making the lengthy process of cutting checks a snap.
How to Effectively Implement an Attendance Monitoring System
Don’t think you can simply put in a system overnight and expect all of your employees to use it effectively the next morning. There are dos and don’ts when it comes to effective implementation. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Explain and Train
Does your team understand why you are putting in new attendance systems? If you don’t explain to them that you’re doing so to make their lives easier and to keep your business nimble, they may have misconceptions. You don’t want your employees to think you are micromanaging them by requiring them to constantly check in. Show them how to use the new system and what you and your HR team will use it for. Explain the different features and how they relate to increased productivity. Keep an open door policy so any questions or concerns from the team are welcomed by management.
Use Company-Wide
Don’t make the mistake of implementing the system only for those who travel or frequently work out of the office. When you use the system for only some of your employees, you cause confusion and possible resentment. Even though the system will have more benefits for those who don’t come into the office every day, your entire team will benefit from the new technology. When you incorporate it company-wide, you can do all-inclusive training and employees can help each other learn the new tech.
Set Guidelines and Expectations
When you allow your employees to use their own smart devices to access company systems, you need to set boundaries. Explain to your employees how and when they can access the system and what information can be transmitted. Make sure they know how to use the system safely and how to separate it from their personal networks and apps. This not only gives them a good framework for using the technology, but it also keeps your network secure.
If you are still using an outdated method of attendance tracking, it’s time to step into the future. New biometric timekeeping methods will increase flexibility, improve productivity, and make your business more attractive to a newer generation of workers. Follow the above guidelines for implementing the new system and you’ll experience cost and time-saving benefits from day one.
