It’s time to talk about time tracking and scheduling. The time-space continuum may not depend on it, but your clients’ businesses will.
Quanta Magazine recently published a report on the evolution of theories involving space and time. In one article in the series, the author wrote: Many physicists “think reconciling Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity with quantum mechanics will require transcending the notion of space-time.”
We’re happy to share that, at least with PrismHR’s new Workforce Management solution, Time & Attendance doesn’t have to be anywhere near that complicated.
Changing and Engaging
According to the Academy to Innovate HR, there are 11 key trends to look out for in 2025, and they all focus on one concept: “Embracing disruption.”
The last trend listed is what AIHR calls “Employee Engagement 2.0,” which explains ways to get more employees engaged at work. As AIHR points out, the Gallup survey on employee engagement numbers have been consistent throughout the years (going back to 2000) with the highest engagement rate being 40% in 2020 and the lowest being 32% in 2022. The most recent figure is 34%.
“If HR wants to impact engagement and drive productivity,” the AIHR says, “it needs to understand the real drivers of employee engagement and inform its approach to engagement with effective, evidence-based techniques.”
That all starts with strong data in Performance Management, of course, but what if we told you there was another indicator hiding in plain sight as to how engaged workers are? Time & Attendance tells a lot. It can tell you who is working, where they are working and if they are working as long as they should be. Conversely, it can tell you if someone is missing shifts regularly, swapping shifts consistently or clocking in from a place that they shouldn’t be, etc. These can all be leading indicators of just how engaged your clients’ employees really are.
Engagement is just one of the business benefits of automated time-tracking and scheduling. Here are five others that will help disrupt the status quo while helping your clients innovate and invigorate their workforce.
5 More Business Benefits of Automated Time-Tracking and Scheduling Software
Implementing a robust time management system can help ensure cost precision, operational control and ease of implementation for your clients. It also offers substantial benefits across various areas of a business from cost savings to improved employee engagement. Here are some key advantages:
1. Increased Efficiency and Productivity
Who has time to manually complete a schedule on a weekly, let alone monthly, basis? Automating time tracking eliminates manual processes associated with tracking employee hours and scheduling shifts. This simplifies time-tracking processes and allows employees to focus on their core tasks rather than administrative duties. Automation also helps prevent shift conflicts and puts the onus of finding someone to fill a shift on the employee rather than the manager if the organization prefers that approach.
Today’s HR tools offer unprecedented insights into employee performance. The wealth of data generated through advanced time-tracking systems provides invaluable insights into workforce trends and performance metrics. Organizations can analyze patterns related to employee productivity, absenteeism among other things, which can inform strategic decision-making. Leveraging data analytics helps businesses to identify inefficiencies and optimize operations.
2. Accurate Data Collection
Companies need to keep track of overtime to help keep costs under control and to stay in regulatory compliance. Manual time tracking is prone to human error, often resulting in inaccuracies that can cost businesses time and money. Automated systems ensure precise data collection, such as time worked, breaks taken and overtime hours. This accuracy facilitates better payroll processing and compliance with labor laws.
Furthermore, data that is both reliable and easy to access can assist in resource allocation, which helps organizations make more-informed business decisions. Companies that either willfully or repeatedly violate overtime pay requirements can be penalized up to $1,000 per violation under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Compliance with labor laws and regulations is critical for any small and medium-sized business. Automated time tracking systems help SMBs produce detailed reports on hours worked, overtime and employee attendance. This data is invaluable during audits and can protect organizations from potential legal issues.
3. Cost Savings
Have you ever tried to count the coins in a piggy bank? It might seem to be an easy task, but it’s easy to lose your count and must start over. Any redundant processes are subject to the same type of errors because human brains aren’t wired for exact repetition. That’s where digital tools can really help. By automating time tracking and scheduling, businesses can significantly reduce administrative costs associated with manual timekeeping. This includes savings on labor hours spent on data entry, corrections and reporting. Moreover, accurate time tracking helps prevent overpayment or underpayment of wages, thus minimizing financial losses. It also helps eliminate “buddy punching,” which is when co-workers clock in and out for their colleagues. That’s because employees have to be where they say they are to start and complete a shift. Over time, these savings can add up.
4. Flexibility and Scalability
Managing a schedule for one or two employees without technology is perhaps manageable, but what happens when a business grows and has 10, 20, 50 or more workers? It gets harder and harder. Automated time tracking and scheduling solutions can easily scale with the organization. The technology can easily accommodate new employees and even help manage shifts from multiple locations. It also can help monitor shift patterns to make better scheduling decisions.
5. Integration with Other Business Systems
We all know that HR is the sum of its parts, and Time & Attendance is just one component of a full suite of solutions available to today’s businesses. PrismHR’s Workforce Management solution can be integrated, of course, into a more robust suite of solutions, including Payroll, Performance Management, HCM, etc., reduces the need for duplicate data entry and streamlines operations across departments. When systems work in harmony, it enhances overall operational efficiency and provides a holistic view of the business—time after time.
Manage Your Time
While Time & Attendance software alone can’t solve all engagement issues in your clients’ workforce, it can be a valuable tool to help highlight areas of inefficiency and any productivity problems due to absenteeism, etc. The space-time continuum might be confusing, but managing Time & Attendance shouldn’t be.
PrismHR’s new Workforce Management solution is an integrated, all-in-one workforce management tool that will help increase employee productivity and reduce compliance risks. It will also help reduce overtime spending through better tracking, create scheduling recommendations and reduce fraud. Learn more by downloading our white paper.
Like we said, the time has come for a better way to check the time.
