Accurate monitoring of employee time and attendance is becoming more and more important, across countries and industries. Implementing an automated system reduces errors and costs, as well as avoiding very common scenarios in companies that lead to misunderstandings about employee hours.
Have you ever had an employee come to you and say…
“I don’t think I got paid enough for the hours I worked.”
If an employee approaches you claiming that his or her paycheque is not adequate, you would probably give them the benefit of the doubt. The other alternative would be to cross reference old records, which would take up a whole lot of time and effort. If the employee is being dishonest though, it could wind up costing the company in wage expenses. Either way, organizational resources are being used up.
“I’m going on vacation from the 3rd to the 7th, I have an appointment on the 12th, and can I leave early on the 21st?”
As a busy manager, it is near impossible to keep track of all the requests that employees make for time off. If an individual were to tell you something like this is the passing, it is likely that you will forget. This can then lead to conflicts in terms of scheduling, and more importantly, employees not showing up for work on days that they have technically spoken to you about.
Or, on the other side of things, have you ever had a co-worker say to you…
“Hey, I’m going to be a tiny bit late, can you punch in for me?”
The practice of “Buddy Punching” is a lot more common than managers think. Your friend is going to be a tad bit late, so you say you’ll punch in for him or her; they’ll do it for you next time you’re in a bind. It’s harmless right? Wrong. Buddy Punching can lead to significant losses for companies, as it basically involves paying employees for time that they haven’t been on the job. In fact, studies have shown that the practice can account for up to 5% of payroll costs, which can add up to thousands or even millions of dollars annually.
“Don’t tell anyone, but check it out – I got paid an extra $300 this week!”
As dishonest as it may sound, there are many people out there who would not confess about being overpaid. Many employees attribute these mistakes as a “corporate error”, and do not feel the need to come clean. Again, mistakes like this can end up costing companies a great deal. They don’t even have to be as significant as receiving an extra $300 in a paycheque – paying every employee an extra two or three dollars every paycheque can add up quickly.
The Solution? An Automated System…
Implementing an automated time and attendance system can alleviate all of the above mentioned problems, and many more. Automation allows for accurate records of employee punch in and punch out, preventing any problems of over or under payment. Furthermore, by using different modules within automated systems, employees can request time off through an online self-service portal. A biometric system can also be installed, to ensure that employees are not punching in and out for each other.
There are many more benefits of using an automated time and attendance system, visit our website to find out more about your options for automation.
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