Keeping track of your employees’ time and attendance is a powerful responsibility that can affect morale as well as productivity. This may not be an issue if all your employees are given the leeway of flexible time or all are on salary. But many small businesses have a combination of salaried and hourly wage employees.
Computer-based time and attendance systems have become increasingly popular. Basic systems keep track of hours worked, as well as vacation and other time off. (“Biometric” systems match each employee with his or her fingerprints, so no one can punch in and out for them.) Some applications also can note how many hours were spent on a particular client. Others add schedule analysis to help you deploy your staff more effectively.
A basic time-and-attendance system may cost a small business with few employees as little as $1,000. The price may include administration and training, or you may have to pay extra for these essential services.
If employee time and attendance management is beginning to strain your business, you might want to engage a supplier of these systems. You can buy directly from the manufacturer or, more commonly, from a reseller. You should check out the reseller to make sure it is thoroughly familiar with the software, including installation, training and support, and is available on short notice for repair.
Time management also may be offered by a professional employer organization (PEO). If you have outsourced your human relations to a PEO, you may be eligible for this service.
As an alternative to buying or leasing a system, you can manage your Time & Attendance yourself. Keep in mind, though, that the complexity and hassles will expand as you increase staff or add locations - especially if you have locations in multiple states.
Registered SBI users can visit the Resource Center for 'do it yourself' tools. Some of the items you can access from the SBI Resource Center include:
- Downloadable time sheets for use by your employees
- Downloadable forms that you can use to track employee time and attendance
- Links to learn about the statutory requirements for paying overtime, and related items.