4 Ways to Track Employee Attendance

Everything from electronic clocks to biometric tools can keep your records up to date and your employees paid on time…

While standard time clocks and punch cards are still being used, they have long been subject to tampering, misuse and accidental recordings. Over the years, various technological resources have emerged to help companies better track the time of their hourly employees. Everything from electronic clocks to biometric tools can keep your records up to date and your employees paid on time. Here are some ways technology can help you track attendance.

Online timekeeping

There are multiple online services that are part of a payroll package that offer the ability for your employees to track their time online. This is particularly helpful with any off-site employees or even temporary workers. Employees can request time off, check accrual balances, and punch in remote. Many service bureaus offer mobile app enabled features, that track employees punched through Geolocation and Geofencing.

Access cards

Another popular tool for many businesses is an entry keycard. It is used to access the building and then to exit and re-enter the building during lunch hours and breaks. This then records the information and provides it to the payroll department. It is much more reliable than time clocks, but still has some vulnerabilities.

RFID scanners

A new version of the access card technology, which in the past often needed an imbedded antenna coil and capacitor to work, is RFID, which stands for radio frequency identification. This uses electromagnetic fields to transfer data and doesn’t need to be waved in proximity to a reader. Employees will be tracked simply by having it on their person in the office.

Biometric readers

Don’t you love in the movies when people use a thumbprint or a retinal scan to enter a classified room in their building? These things are no longer science fiction. They can be used in office buildings today to track the movement of your employees and, by default, track their time on the job.

How does your company currently record time for hourly employees?

Learn more about tracking employee attendance.