Time and attendance recording is the key function in any workforce management system. The workers work for pay and payrolls are prepared on the basis of time and attendance records. Accurate time and attendance records not only save employers from losing money on excess payments but also instil employee confidence in the payroll system.
Originally, time clocks installed at factory gates recorded in and out times on paper-based time cards of each employee. These time cards were collected by the payroll office and transcribed into time sheets. The time sheets were then summarized and the totals were used to prepare pay sheets. The whole exercise was a time-consuming and costly exercise. It was also prone to errors at several stages.
With advances in technology, new methods of recording time and attendance have appeared. These methods eliminate the time spent on preparing payrolls. They also enable more accurate recording and computations, and produce real-time reports for managers.
We take a look at the emerging scenario of time and attendance tracking and management.
Modern Time and Attendance Recording Devices
-> Time clocks these days...