Accurate time keeping when it comes to employees is often something hard to keep track of. Whether your team is remote or you find yourself too busy to constantly check the accuracy of time input, time and attendance of employees can often go unchecked. This is especially true for small businesses. Time and attendance software, though it is often incorporated into most HRIS (Human Resources Information System) solutions, might seem like a great way to solve the problem. However, there are both pros and cons when it comes to this type of software.
The Benefits
Human resources software can often help HR professionals manage the many tasks appointed to them. Time and attendance is just one aspect of this, but the right software can help you and your company in a number of ways.
- Up-to-date, easy to access scheduling can make sure no miscommunications about timing and availability occur. When an employee is constantly absent, late or working overtime, your time and attendance software shows that too.
- Easily calculate paychecks and avoid payroll errors. HRIS solutions and some time and attendance software solutions allow employers to calculate paychecks with ease, automatically taking into account taxes and voluntary deductions.
- Easy integration between payroll software and any other programs used by HR simplify the tasks of your HR team. Your HR department can become more efficient and focus on other responsibilities when they save time with the right software.
The Drawbacks
When it comes to time and attendance, employers have to worry about embellished time cards, employee time theft, or “buddy clock ins.” The right time and attendance software can help, but it can also make things easier for those cheating the system.
- If your system of clocking in and out is online or is without an on-premise check-in, employee time theft can still occur and become an even bigger problem. Employees can claim they arrived earlier and stayed later than they actually did in reality.
- As with any software, glitches can occur. Make sure you regularly update and run maintenance checks on your software to make sure each employee’s time is accurate and that the taxes and deductions are current. You don’t want to be over or under the correct amount of hours logged.
- If an employee forgets or loses the necessary equipment required to log in, such as their key card, an HR manager will need to go in and make the adjustments. If this becomes a problem, your HR manager may spend more time making up for the forgetful employees.
Time and attendance software can help many businesses manage the accountability of their employees when it comes to scheduling. It can also save the business money by reducing absenteeism and employee time theft. There are also a few downsides you’ll need to consider before making a decision about whether time and attendance software is a good fit for your HR team and business.
About the Author:
Erica Bell is a small business writer who focuses on topics such as time and attendance software and social media trends. She is a web content writer for Business.com.
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