Implementing time and attendance software can feel like the ultimate solution. As your company moves away from paper punch cards and onto a software system, growing pains are inevitable, but many companies don't consider that at some point, they need to upgrade their system. Thankfully, it's easy enough to spot when it's time to move one from your current time and attendance software. Ask yourself whether you're experiencing these five signs that can indicate you need a new time and attendance solution.
Buddy Punching is Still a Problem
The costs of buddy punching are significant. With up to five percent of your total payroll costs up for grabs, even a small number of occurrences can add up over the fiscal year. If your time and attendance software is relying on employee identification numbers rather than badges or biometric scanners, you may be experiencing the negative effects of buddy punching. A new time and attendance solution can address buddy punching and address time theft in your business.
Payroll Takes Forever
How many hours are allocated to payroll? If your payroll employees are still spending days figuring how many hours each employee has worked, the answer isn't more payroll employees but a better time and attendance software solution. New time and attendance software systems can automatically calculate hours worked, paid time off used, and factor in breaks to produce accurate payroll hours worked. Payroll employees can spend more time on their other job duties and finance departments can prevent unnecessary hires with a new time and attendance system.
Managers Are Scheduling in a Bubble
The benefits of cross training are numerous, but you can't reap the benefits without an integrative time and attendance system. Managers need to work together to assign time off and schedule for business success and unfortunately, many time and attendance solutions don't allow managers this necessity. If your time and attendance software doesn't allow management to access each other’s' schedule and collaborate on employee staffing, you have an outdated system that's keeping you from becoming lean.
Employees Don't Know Their Hours
One of the biggest drawbacks to traditional scheduling was that employees were only as informed as the schedule they copied down. If a last minute change was needed, some employees missed the update because they were off that day or weren't told their hours changed. Today's time and attendance solutions don't just allow managers to view schedules but also employees. If your employees can't access their schedule from work or home and don't receive text and email updates when their schedule changes, you probably need a new time and attendance solution.
You Still Experience Labor Law Violations
Lawsuits are costly and can shutter a business. Many businesses pour their efforts into ensuring that they operate within the confines of government and industry laws but simplifying compliance is always at the forefront of managers' minds. If your time and attendance software doesn't cue managers when they are over scheduling employees or violating labor laws, you leave your business open to litigation. New time and attendance solutions remove the threat of violations from your managers and your business.
Time and attendance software has changed substantially since businesses have moved away from paper punch cards and schedules. Today, there are options that allow increased security, more employee involvement, and better support for managers. You may have time and attendance software but that doesn't mean your business wouldn't significantly benefit from an upgrade. If you recognize these five issues in your own workplace, it's time for a change.
