GPS monitoring of employees has become a widespread practice in the workplace and has been especially popular with construction and other industries that involve multiple project sites or frequent employee travel. New technology allows for your mobile workforce to clock in and out right from their smart device. If they have GPS tracking enabled, HR managers can also see where they were when they performed this action. Business owners have recognized the benefits of being able to tell where their workforce is, along with other benefits such as monitoring their movement and idle time. Have you considered using mobile workforce software that enables this type of tracking? If not, it should be on your radar.
Benefits of Location Tracking
Having instant access to your team’s location in real-time has a number of benefits. Here are just a few:
Accountability
When your employees know that their whereabouts are known by managers, they’ll be less likely to waste time, take unauthorized breaks, or otherwise impact their productivity. No longer will you have to worry about ‘buddy punching’ or about workers clocking in before they are on the job site. When employees know their location is being tracked, they are less likely to take advantage. This can help you mitigate compliance risks and increase the overall performance of your team.
Increased Efficiency
Knowing where your employees are and how to contact them quickly is a huge benefit of GPS tracking. Not only will it help with communication, but it will also help with scheduling and project management. When you know where workers are when they clock in and out, you can easily pinpoint when and if scheduling changes need to be made. It can also help you monitor overtime and compliance with labor laws, which can add to your bottom line and help you avoid costly lawsuits in the future.
Awareness of Problem Behavior
Knowing if certain employees are consistently showing up to worksites late, are idle too long, or taking unauthorized breaks is important for your HR team. This type of problem behavior can often go unnoticed for months or even years, affecting morale, productivity, and your bottom line. When you know which employees are engaging in problem behavior, you can begin monitoring them more closely and planning for mitigation. Without a tracking system, you may never know that you have a problem.
Things to Consider When Monitoring Your Employees Through GPS
Of course, no new system comes without its share of issues and potential problems. As with any new emerging technology, there is the issue of compliance and possible violation of state and other laws. If you are considering location tracking for your team, you should be aware of the following:
State and Other Laws
With GPS installation on smart devices, the law gets a bit gray. If you are supplying your team with company-owned devices, you can install the software. However, if you are encouraging your employees to use their own smart devices for work purposes, you cannot install GPS tracking software without their consent. It’s a good idea to speak with an attorney familiar with these matters before implementing any GPS tracking system.
Privacy
If you have GPS tracking on your employees’ devices, you need to be respectful of their privacy. Even if they are using company devices, they may end up taking them home, on vacation, or on other non work-related outings. If you are monitoring their activity when they’re with their family or on a personal vacation, you are violating their privacy. GPS tracking is to be utilized to increase productivity and efficiency in the office only. All other uses are a violation and could end up in a lawsuit.
Written Policy
If you are implementing a GPS tracking system for your business, you should develop a written policy and make sure all employees are aware of the system and agree with its use. Have your HR teamwork with an attorney to make sure the policies are in compliance with state and other labor laws, and make the policy readily available to everyone on your team. When a new team member is hired, go through the policy with them during orientation.
Implementing mobile workforce software that includes a GPS tracking system on smart devices can have a number of benefits for your company. In addition to increasing workflow and accountability, it can also mitigate compliance risks and make for a workforce that communicates more efficiently. Be aware of potential privacy breaches and the laws related to the software, and make sure you have a written policy in place that all must adhere to.
