This article
presents the possibilities of data
collection for arrivals to and
departures from work, lunch, business trip, and how to these possibilities follow changes in the type of
work performed (office, field, and time-flexible).
Every advanced company is nowadays aware that keeping record of working hours is an essential tool if the company wants to control the quantity and expenses of work. In my work with company managers, human resource managers and IT-responsible employees, I often meet the question how to implement an efficient and simple system for time tracking for users and administrators.
Which registration method will work best in the company depends on the company's policy and nature of work:
Every advanced company is nowadays aware that keeping record of working hours is an essential tool if the company wants to control the quantity and expenses of work. In my work with company managers, human resource managers and IT-responsible employees, I often meet the question how to implement an efficient and simple system for time tracking for users and administrators.
Which registration method will work best in the company depends on the company's policy and nature of work:
Registration
on a Time Clock
For companies
whose employees work on fixed locations,
the use of a Time Clock will definitely be the fastest way. Some call this
terminal, a time clock, logger, or they simplify it into a reader, even though that
is just one of its components.
On such Time Clocks, employees register with RFID cards or RFID key chains. Sometimes I meet a customer who is worried that employees will lose their cards, and that they will not be able to check in to or check out from work.
Experience shows that people rarely lose their metal keys, therefore a key chain is quite safe with them. We have a similar attitude towards our money so keeping a card in a wallet is also a functional solution. You don't need to take the card out of the wallet, of course, it is sufficient for the employee to place the wallet on the terminal.
On such Time Clocks, employees register with RFID cards or RFID key chains. Sometimes I meet a customer who is worried that employees will lose their cards, and that they will not be able to check in to or check out from work.
Experience shows that people rarely lose their metal keys, therefore a key chain is quite safe with them. We have a similar attitude towards our money so keeping a card in a wallet is also a functional solution. You don't need to take the card out of the wallet, of course, it is sufficient for the employee to place the wallet on the terminal.
Registration
with a mobile phone
Many companies
still require their employees to drive to the company and register themselves
before fieldwork. Such use of time and money can be avoided by registering with
a mobile phone. It notifies the
time and location of registration via mobile network. In case of a
previously unknown location, the administrator can check from where the
employee was registered.
For areas
without signal, the information about registration time is submitted
immediately when the mobile phone is reconnected to the network.
Registration over internet
The third
possibility, which is particularly convenient in the current times when people work from home, in a coffee house or summer
cottage and at various times of day, is registration over the internet with a
computer or a tablet. Since some companies still want to prevent abuse of this registration
option, modern applications for recording working hours are equipped with an IP-number notification which limits
registration over the computer to a specific location.
Bluetooth
and NFC
Registration
with a mobile phone will become the dominant form in the near future, therefore
the development is orienting towards Bluetooth Low Energy technology where the mobile
phone responds to the Bluetooth Beacon's signal. NFC tags are still being used
currently, but they are not convenient enough due to incompatibility with
certain types of phone.
When employees become used to registering their working hours, the above stated types prove to be simple and fast, providing transparent and realistic information to the company about the time their employees spend for work, which is the basis for salaries, optimisation of work costs and proof for possible labour inspection visits.
