Time and Attendance Systems

By Jodee Redmond

Absenteeism is a major problem that affects businesses of all sizes. When employees don't show up to work as scheduled, it has a big impact on productivity and leads to higher administrative costs. It also drives up the cost of benefits.

To keep a close eye on the issue, employers can use a time and attendance software package that can give them detailed statistics in real-time. This type of system can help you create a better organized workplace while immediately reducing costly wages that are paid unnecessarily.

But first, let's take a look at what all those absentees are costing you.

The problem: Direct costs of frequent worker absences

• When some employees have poor attendance records, other workers are required to adjust their workload to compensate.
• The company may be required to hire contract or temporary workers, often at higher rates, to complete orders or meet deadlines if it is unexpectedly short-staffed.
• Lack of notice means the company must pull employees away from their regular duties to train new workers, which further slows down production.
• Workers who are asked to perform more work without more pay may feel frustrated or grow resentful of the worker who was absent, affecting morale and the atmosphere in the workplace.
• The company may incur increased administrative costs, such as overtime wages.

In addition, human resources (HR) staff will be required to spend time tracking and reporting on the attendance of employees who don't come to work on a regular basis. Depending on company policy, a chronically absent employee may require counseling and/or a warming, which takes time away from the HR department manager, the employee's supervisor, and the employee's normal duties.

The solution: Taking charge of employee attendance issues

Time and attendance systems are designed with specific features that help monitor absenteeism and determine the impact it's having on your bottom line so it can be reduced or otherwise eliminated.

Key functionalities include:

And don't forget about punctuality

Though not necessarily an absence, attendance systems also monitor punctuality. While a few minutes here or there may not seem like a big deal, when you're dealing with hourly employees it adds up quick.

For example, if you have 10 employees who are each 3 minutes late, that's 30 minutes of lost labor in a single day. If you pay those employees $20/hour, that equates to a loss of $10. That $10 becomes $70 in a week, $300 in a month, and $3,600 in a year... for absolutely nothing. Now what if they're all 15 minutes late?

For more information on how absenteeism affects your bottom line, review this data from InfoTronics. Or to be connected with leading sellers who can help get your business started with a time and attendance system, fill out our free quote request.