Everyone in a management capacity has faced the dread of tracking down employees to get the information needed to update timecards for payroll processing. Multiple slips of paper, emails, and recollections of prior conversations all play a part in this never-ending merry-go-round subsiding only momentarily after a payroll has run before starting all over again. Technology, however, can help and although it may never wholly prevent the need for occasional time punch clarifications with employees, it will introduce a faster and more accurate process.
Employee timekeeping can be a major headache for employers who deal with the daily activities of running the business and managing employees. Monitoring employee time, making updates or corrections, and keeping up with time off are tedious and time-consuming. Moving to a technological way of managing employee timekeeping helps you with efficiency and accuracy which contributes to your organizational goals.
What are the advantages?
Paper timecards, time punch devices, and physical time sheets are moving to the electronic age giving employers immediate access to view time entries and maintain long-term records. Employees can punch in using a physical clock, a computer, or a tablet in a fixed location and can even punch in using a smartphone anywhere there is phone coverage. These multiple options provide opportunities for any business to record employee time punches without paper or hassle. Recorded time punches are sent seamlessly to the cloud for quick reporting and quick accessibility by managers or administrators.
Platforms housed in the cloud receive time stamps and are viewable by managers and administrators within seconds while being accessible by them on computers, tablets, or smartphones. The convenience of these options along with various reports of both current and past date reporting is another notable feature along with real-time monitoring of employee overtime.
What is the RIGHT time solution?
Factors to consider when moving to a cloud-based timekeeping system include:
- Size of the business and complexities
- Flexibility for future needs and growth
- Integration with payroll systems
- Ability to manage PTO plans
- Ease of use
- Employee access points for timekeeping being fixed or mobile
- Security such as passcodes or biometrics
- Compliance with state and/or federal laws
- Cost structure
Why continue to be frustrated with old processes when you can reap the benefits of giving time back to your day? Time is money and the option to streamline employee timekeeping is more robust than ever due to technology and the cloud. New options are out there and researching the various timekeeping products will pay off both mentally and financially!
Darrel Brown is Sr. Manager at ConceptHR utilizing HR, Benefits, Payroll, and Timekeeping experience to guide team members and clients toward success. He is a SHRM-CP with an MBA in Human Resources Management. His background extends into various levels of customer care, technical assistance, and troubleshooting in multiple industries such as HR, telecommunications, and transportation.
Known for being motivated and proactive while peppering a little fun into the workplace, he is always looking for the next project to complete and continuously working to ensure his team is energized and clients are receiving great care with a smile.
He enjoys travel, sharing a few laughs, time with family, and the ongoing projects that seem to arise constantly at home.
