Time and Attendance – Page 4 – Time and Attendance

Are You Allowing A Toxic Culture Into Your Workplace?

“Don’t you know that you’re toxic”. Have a read of our latest blog post here, on the best way to highlight that toxic employee.

Let’s be honest, we have all experienced a difficult co-worker or manager at some time in our working lives. This is nothing new in the workplace but sadly, as a recent Harvard Business Study uncovered, bullying and incivility is not something that your company can afford to ignore.

The business study, which was undertaken by 60,000 employees, highlighted the true financial cost to businesses on the shop floor that employed people with a partiality to, but not exclusively, the following :-

• Vulgarity
• Lack of respect
• Lack of manners
• Discourteousness
• Coarseness
• Impoliteness
• Rudeness

The study also highlighted that by allowing such individuals to remain in the company over a long period of time, had a detrimental effect on the retention of other key members of staff.

The statistics below make for grim reading, as staff retention is crucial to any forward thinking company.

• 38% Intentionally decreased their work output
• 25% Took their frustrations out on their clients
• 12% Left their jobs altogether

The hiring process doesn’t always come easy for management, especially if they are lacking in the people-skills department themselves. Managers may be good at running a business or a department in terms of work, but from time to time they can fail to pick up on certain attributes that a person displays during the recruitment process. By missing these characteristics, individuals can and often do, “slip through the net”.

And as we all know, everyone can look good on paper!

Let’s take a look at the 5 main prime antagonists that may rear their “ugly heads” in the workplace as uncovered by the business study.

1. The Slacker
2. The Bully
3. The Gossip
4. The Lone Wolf
5. The Know it All

As you will see from the list, Human Resource Departments can do without the burden of this particular type of employee – in any situation.

So what can be done to highlight and more so bring to task this certain individual? What can management and in particular Human Resource Departments do, to end this negative cycle within the workplace?

ELF Productivity Limited’s CEEQUEL® software is the essential Time Management suite that you need.

ELF’s Time and Attendance system will allow you to uncover the real reason behind the downturn in productivity. Whether you need to supervise “The Slacker” on the shop floor or call time on “The Gossip” in the office, CEEQUEL® and our Shop Floor Data Capture and Human Resources modules will provide everything you require and necessitate for your workforce.

Shop Floor Data Capture

Shop Floor Data Capture does exactly what it says on the tin, it is employee tracking at its very best. A component of the CEEQUEL® Time and Attendance software suite, Shop Floor Data Capture not only calculates employees working hours, it also tracks activities and jobs over a specified time; thus highlighting that “shirker” and “gossip-monger” on the shop floor. Another benefit this module provides is the Incentive Scheme Calculation. This calculation is particularly popular within the manufacturing sector as it converts operator performance into performance related pay.

Human Resource Management

CEEQUEL® Human Resource Management solution is an all-encompassing, fully comprehensive HR module that will completely transform your personnel requirements. With views such as appraisals, discipline and grievance procedures, it provides the necessary instruments needed to deal with your day to day management workload. This module provides you with the software to not only supervise every individual employee but it will also highlight your hardworking employees; thus enabling you to reward and promote the right staff.

Another added benefit to CEEQUEL® Human Resource Management module is that it can co-exist on the same Time and Attendance database or as a standalone HR Management solution.

Does your company need a dynamic Time Management system that will not only stop a toxic culture from springing up in your workplace but allows your company to run more efficiently and smoothly?

Is it time for you to take a closer look at your workforce?

CEEQUEL® Time and Attendance software suite is all you need to monitor and keep track of your ENTIRE workforce.

If you would like to know more about the unrivalled CEEQUEL® Software Suite, including our leading Time and Attendance modules; the downloadable catalogue of brochures can be found here.

Contact ELF Productivity today for a free no obligation quotation and demonstration of CEEQUEL® software.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Proximity Clocking Terminals

Proximity clocking terminal may sound complex, but they’re actually very common, and it’s highly likely that you’ve come across several in your lifetime. In reality, this term describes a system where swipe cards or fobs can be used to record what time a staff member enters or exits a building or an area of their company’s premises. So, is this system the best way to record time and attendance and grant employees access? Here are a few of the pros and cons of proximity clocking terminals, as determined by ELF Productivity Limited.

Disadvantages of Proximity Clocking Terminals

Forgettable and Transferrable

The main problem with having a physical card, badge or fob for each employee that is authorised to use a time and attendance terminal is the fact that each one is relatively easy to remove from its assigned member of staff. Whether accidentally or by design, workers are able to swap passes (leading to inevitable “buddy clocking”, where one staff member clocks in or out at a terminal on behalf of another, meaning the second employee will be registered as being “present” when they are not), or put theirs down and lose it (which could easily lead to a security breach or theft). These items can also prove expensive to replace or maintain if multiple staff members continue to lose and damage theirs.

Advantages of Proximity Clocking Terminals

Familiar

As proximity clocking systems have been around and in use for many years, the basic process of clocking in and out using a swipe card, fob or badge is one that many workers will be used to. However, the very basic mechanism that was first used by forward thinking companies decades ago has now been replaced by a system that takes multiple actions at once, storing useful employee data and updating clockings in real time, meaning there is no downloading or transferring of information required. It’s a well-known approach, but one that produces brand new results.

Quick

Newer systems have now come into use whereby staff members may use fingerprint scanners or facial recognition to clock in and out of their places of work. However, a queue of individuals waiting to start their working day at nine o’clock in the morning or to head home at five in the afternoon can prove quite slow to process in this way, particularly if a company has very few terminals and employs a large quantity of individuals who all work a typical eight-hour day, and all arrive and leave at around the same time. While these biometric scanners may function extremely well for shift-based work, proximity clocking systems tend to be the preference of many traditional offices.

Trusted

While biometric systems are completely secure, many employees find themselves slightly uneasy when adjusting to their use. There is often a fear for the safety of personal data that retinal, facial or fingerprint scanning seems to exacerbate – due to the direct physical interaction required and the natural connotation of fingerprints with unique personal and biological information. In reality, no fingerprints or facial or retinal imagery or data is retained. The system maps certain points within these particular features and creates a code that is unique to each individual employee. All traces of fingerprints and facial features are then completely wiped from the system. Be that as it may, however, it’s likely that – as an employer – you will come up against far lower resistance when implementing a fob-based system than you might if you were to install fingerprint scanners in the workplace.

Easy

Because they’ve been around for so long, proximity clocking terminals tend to be easier to maintain than many more complex alternatives, and mistakes are often slightly more straightforward to remedy. A missing card can easily be replaced, whereas if there is an issue with a biometric system, resolving it is likely to prove a little harder.

Find Out More About Available Types of Time and Attendance System

Whether you’ve decided to install a proximity clocking system in your office or you’d prefer to opt for biometric options such as finger, facial or retinal scanning terminals, your next step is to shop around for a product that best suits your needs. ELF Productivity Limited is a great place to start, boasting a wide range of systems that can help to reduce the time and effort spent on management administration and HR paperwork, allowing you more time to develop your company and its products. For further information, get in touch today via 01257 256000 or email sales@elf.uk.com to discuss your requirements with their knowledgeable team.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Biometric Finger-Scanners

One of the most popular types of time and attendance system available is the kind that can be operated using a biometric finger scanner terminal. These systems can collect data from the fingerprints of your company’s employees and then utilise that data as a unique code to allow that individual to clock in or out of their workplace, or to access certain areas of their company’s premises – simply by touching a screen. Below, ELF Productivity Limited – specialises in time and attendance systems – explain the pros and cons of this system and what do do if you wish to implement it within your own place of work.

Disadvantages of Biometric Finger-Scanners

Queues

The only real problem that some companies find with a time and attendance system occurs if only one terminal has been installed. While many firms hire staff that work on a flexible basis, or undertake shift based work, a great many businesses still have employees that are on site for the typical nine to five. That means that multiple individuals will wish to clock in or out at the same time, and this can create a backlog. It’s important to consider this issue if your company regularly has multiple people clocking in and out at the same time, and perhaps opt for more than one finger scanning terminal. Another option is to use a proximity clocking terminal, which is able to process large numbers of individuals at the same time.

Concerns About Data

An interesting issue surrounding fingerprint scanners is the general public’s fear of “Big Brother” – the idea that our data and information is being pried into and utilized by large companies and corporations. For this reason, many people express concern about using a fingerprint scanner and suspicion surrounding the information that it retains. These worries are unfounded however, as you’ll see in the first of our advantages…

Advantages of Biometric Finger-Scanners

Security (Company-Wide and Personal)

One of the main motivations for implementing a time and attendance system is security, and biometric finger scanners provide a superb means of keeping track of who is in the building and who is not. While key codes and swipe cards can be passed between staff members, there is no way of one employee replicating the information collected from another’s fingerprint.

We’ll now quickly refer back to something mentioned in the “Disadvantages” section; namely, the element of unease that some people feel about time and attendance systems “storing” their data. In actual fact, no element of an individual’s fingerprint is retained. When an employee first joins the company or has to register on a new biometric finger scanner, certain coordinates are plotted according to the structure of their fingerprint. The original print is then wiped from the system to ensure personal security and data protection. All that is left is a code that relates to the coordinates that were taken.

Real Time Updates

While you can use time and attendance software to automatically collate and pull reports, the information that is recorded by the biometric finger scanning system doesn’t require any downloading or transferring whatsoever. Everything updates in real time, which means that the system updates every time a new clocking-in occurs. There is no slow transfer of data – all the information pops up straight away.

Site-based Versatility

Biometric finger scanners work in all kinds of environment. It’s easy to convince yourself that they’d be more at home in a spotless office than in a workshop full of sawdust, but that simply isn’t the case. Of course, the reader lens needs to be wiped occasionally to allow it to continue scanning, but these terminals are very tough and can withstand most environments. We recommend avoiding extreme cold (freezers, for example), as the cold can cause conductivity issues, but otherwise you’re able to place your scanners anywhere you wish!

If you’re interested in finding out more about biometric finger scanners or time and attendance systems in general, simply get in touch with ELF Productivity Limited today on 01257 256000 or email sales@elf.uk.com, and their helpful team will be more than happy to assist you and to answer any questions you may have. Opting for a time and attendance system in your workplace reduces the time and effort spent on management administration and HR paperwork considerably so that you can have much more time at your disposal to develop your company and its products as well as attending to the job satisfaction and general progression of your staff and colleagues.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Biometric Finger-Scanners

How to Prevent Unauthorised Access to Your Building

You are right to be concerned about individuals entering your property unchecked, particularly if you deal with dangerous or valuable materials and equipment, or sensitive information. Nine times out of ten, things will tick over as they should without any trouble – but the possibility of your security being compromised is very real if you do not have an effective system in place to prevent the wrong individuals from entering. So what are the best ways to ensure that your premises are correctly protected from unauthorised access?

1. On-Site Security

One of the most obvious and well known ways of ensuring that only authorised individuals enter your building is to hire specialist personnel to man its access points. This can often prove effective, as having a visible presence on site can help to deter intruders. However, human error is always possible – plus, if a robbery or break-in were to occur, it isn’t always possible to completely ensure the safety of your security team, however well trained they may be.

2. CCTV

The use of closed-circuit television cameras can help a surprising amount in security terms, particularly if signs are displayed to inform users of the building and those passing it that they have been installed. Anyone planning to enter the building for illegal purposes will be made aware that they will be caught on camera, and this can often be enough to dissuade them. However, this method won’t stop individuals who are lost and may be wandering into a dangerous or private part of the building.

3. Alarms

Another popular method of on-site security is the use of burglar alarms – devices that are set when all authorised personnel are leaving a particular area. They can detect any movement suggesting that an intruder is present and sound a loud alarm to alert people in the surrounding area. They can also be set up to notify the building’s owners or the police.

4. Keypads with Codes or Swipe Cards

Many managers issue all authorised personnel with a code to use when entering restricted areas of a building. There are a few problems with this method, as if there is only one code used by a whole team of personnel, security may be compromised due to the possibility of this code becoming common knowledge to employees outside the team. The same applies to team members who are each issued their own code, with the added problem that they may need to be reminded of it every so often, and so a list of those codes will need to be kept to hand just in case. If this list is too accessible, it defies the point of the security measures put in place. Swipe cards are also a difficult option, as it is very possible for these to go missing or to end up in the wrong hands.

5. Fingerprint Biometric Systems

Another option is the use of a fingerprint scanner. The fingerprints of each individual to be granted access are scanned and recorded, and certain coordinates are plotted according to the structure of the print. The original print is then wiped from the system to ensure personal security and data protection. From this time onwards, when an authorised member of staff touches a fingerprint scanner, the points that were plotted on the system are matched up with certain segments of their print, and they are allowed access. This method is by far the most secure, as authorisation documentation cannot be forged or passed between individuals. Every fingerprint is unique, so only the original employee whose fingerprint was registered on the system can be admitted.

How Do I Obtain a Fingerprint Scanner?

Various biometric hardware and software is available to use by businesses and individuals for security purposes. These include the likes of retinal and fingerprint scanners. Oftentimes, this technology is available as a part of a wider time and attendance management system, so it’s worth shopping around for the best arrangement to meet your security needs.

If you’re interested in finding out a little more about the biometric security equipment available from ELF Productivity Limited, simply call the team today on 01257 256000 or email sales@elf.uk.com. There is a huge variety of options and add ons, so do take the time to discuss your requirements and needs with a specialist in order to find out the very best option for you. Their offices are open from 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday.

I Think I Wanna Marry You

Booked yourself twice? Read our latest blog post on how to effectively and remotely manage more than one engagement….

“Get me to the Church on Time” ….

The marriage of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle is now just weeks away. The nation’s, if not the world’s favourite Prince has found “The One” in Meghan and has decided, at the grand old age of 33, it’s now finally time to produce the “Band of Gold” and “Kiss the Bride”. The man of the moment is ready to settle down and experience both “Love AND Marriage”.

On Saturday 19^th May 2018, all eyes will be on St George’s Chapel in Windsor, as Harry and his glamourous American fiancé say “I Do”. This union will be cause for much celebration. Ever since actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco, the world has loved a good old fashioned “The Prince and The Showgirl” love story.

A Royal Wedding bash or “knees-up” is something else, unless of course you are soccer fan.

In what has turned out to be the only real sting in this “fairy-tale”, the wedding of the year will clash with the ultimate football match …….the annual FA Cup Final!

HM Queen along with the rest of the Royal family, the movers and shakers of Hollywood will all be in attendance but what of Prince William; as President of the FA, where will he be spending his time?

If a new baby isn’t going to be enough for him to deal with, see previous blog post; The Pitter-Patter of Tiny Royal Feet, he now has to decide where to be on his little brother’s special day.

Football, Wedding, Football, Wedding……hmmm which do you choose?

Here at ELF Productivity Limited authors of CEEQUEL® Time and Attendance System, we have all the bases covered when it comes to remote working and flexible shift patterns. No more worrying about getting to the office (or church) on time to “clock in”, it can all be done remotely via an Android, Apple or Windows device – you really can be in two places at once!

“Going to the Chapel” AND the match will not be an issue with ELF Productivity’s CEEQUEL® Mobile Apps and Employee Self Service software, as these applications have been designed with “on the go” employees in mind. Every remote clocking is recorded in real-time; therefore giving you an instant and exact overview of your employees’ location.

But it doesn’t stop there. Employees have access to all their personal data whilst on the go, thus allowing for absence requests, such as holiday (or honeymoon) requirements, dentists, doctors and hospital appointments etc. CEEQUEL® Mobile Apps and Employee Self Service are just two of the modules that ELF Productivity’s Ceequel® software suite encompasses; our knowledge and expertise are unequalled.

With that in mind, is your Human Resources department in need of some “Time, Love and Tenderness this year? Would you like ELF Productivity Limited to come alongside and become that “Perfect” partner for you?

If you would like to know more about the incomparable functionality of Ceequel® Software Suite, including our leading Time and Attendance modules; the downloadable catalogue of brochures can be found here.

Contact ELF Productivity today for a free no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software.

Your company and ELF Productivity Limited the “Perfect” marriage.

The Importance of Keeping Accurate Employee Records

Keep on top of your reporting duties, check out our latest blog post on how to manage your employees’ records effectively.

Whether you’re an employer, a member of the management team of a business or a HR professional, it’s vital that you keep accurate and up to date records of all the individuals that work for your company. Maintaining an employee database can seem like time consuming work, particularly if your business is a large one, but it should definitely be one of your top priorities. Below, the specialists at ELF Time and Attendance explain why keeping your employees’ records up to date is so important, and suggest a few ways to ensure that this can easily be done.

The Importance of Keeping Accurate Employee Records

Health and Safety

It goes without saying that you need to know which of your employees is in the building in case of a fire or other dangerous situation, but many employees take other elements of their staff’s health and safety less seriously. Employee records can include details of disabilities or conditions that may affect your workers’ capabilities of doing certain jobs, so it’s very important that these matters are added to their confidential records. Also, it’s very helpful for you to know what training each member of staff has undertaken, particularly when it comes to matters of first aid or undertaking physical tasks that require a certain level of health and safety certification. If you’ve got access to all this information, managing your team will be a lot easier and less stressful.

External Liaison

If staff within your company regularly liaise with members of the public or employees of other companies as part of their work, it’s really important for you and other authorised team members to be able to access up to date information about their position. It may be that they have been having ongoing conversations with certain individuals as part of their roles, and so if they change telephone extension, for example, it’s vital that their new number is recorded. They may even move to a different department or leave the company, which means you’ll need to update their records to reflect this as soon as possible to enable you to provide information about the new point of contact.

Training and Qualifications

Keeping up to date records of staff training and qualifications will benefit your employees as much as it does you and your wider company. If you know exactly what stage each team member has reached in terms of their experience and official qualifications, it will be a great deal easier for you to see which individuals require further development and which can already offer your company more in terms of expertise. You’ll also have a better idea of specialisms if you need to delegate tasks, plus you’ll be able to see which of your team can be safely authorised to undertake more dangerous or sensitive duties.

Holiday and Other Leave

Staying on top of staff holiday requests can be a real nightmare, and double-booking can be embarrassing and may just put you in a difficult position. There are systems available to help you log employee holiday requests as and when they are made, as well as recording other planned absences such as maternity leave to ensure you’ll have the right amount of cover.

Hours Worked

You trust your staff to log correct hours on their timesheets or arrive and leave at their allotted time each day. However, on busy weeks – particularly with shift-based jobs – sometimes it can be hard for them, and you, to keep track. Keeping an automated electronic record of their working hours in real time, day in and day out, through the use of a time and attendance management system, can really streamline this process. In turn, this will assist you in generating information for payroll.

How To Update Your Records Accurately and in Real Time

The best approach to all the matters above is to look into obtaining a time and attendance management system. Time and attendance software can undertake a huge number of tasks, including logging employee arrival and departure – for which you can even set up fingerprint scanning technology for extra security. It can also manage staff leave with a feature that allows you to decide whether you want employees to enter their own holiday requests or you’d prefer to manage them yourself. These requests are then compared to those of other employees through use of a database to see if there are any clashes. Databases can also be used to record employee qualifications and training.

If you’re interested in finding out more about how a time and attendance management system can help you to keep your employees’ records up to date, simply contact ELF Time and Attendance on 01257 256000 today.

What is a Biometric Time and Attendance System?

Looking for Time and Attendance for your company? Check out our latest blog post here and learn more about how CEEQUEL® can help you.

They were once merely imaginative concepts used in science fiction, but, like so many other futuristic predictions, biometric devices are now very real. As technology continues to advance, security and administration systems are becoming more and more sophisticated – while at the same time their implementation grows ever easier. If you work in management for a company of any size, you may just discover that investing in a biometric time and attendance system will take a great amount of pressure off the human resources and administrative aspects of your role, freeing your time up for more productive activities. So what exactly is a biometric time and attendance system and how could it help you, your colleagues and your company?

Biometric – What Does it Mean?

The word “biometric” relates to the application of statistics and statistical analysis to biological data. To simplify, you could say that “biometrics” is the practice measuring aspects of the human body for use in a study, system or database.

How Can Biometrics be Used in a Time and Attendance Management System?

There are a number of ways in which companies can employ biometric technology to help manage members of their personnel. Two of the most popular are fingerprint and retinal scans – fingerprint scanning proving the most regularly used. The process is simple. When an employee first joins the company, a scan of their fingerprint is taken and mapped. Particular coordinates of the fingerprint are then recorded, so that every time the individual “signs in” from now on, the points located on the tip of their finger will match up with the points recorded on the system, allowing them access. This approach means that no other person can log into this employee’s work profile, access their sensitive data or enter their place of work posing as them, thus increasing the security of the site and all employees’ personal information. Additionally, if a physical area of the company’s premises can only be accessed by authorised personnel, a biometric time and attendance management system can ensure that this directive is effectively enforced.

What Can My Company Achieve With a Biometric Time and Attendance Management System?

Through the use of a time and attendance management system, a huge number of time consuming jobs can be automated. By having employees sign in and out using fingerprint scanning technology located at data capture terminals, the system can register the hours they have worked per shift and calculate their payroll. It can also track the speed of their completion of tasks, revealing areas where productivity could be increased. As mentioned earlier, it can allow or deny area access to certain individuals depending on their job role or level of health and safety training. You can also programme the system to know when employees are taking holiday, or are due to be working at another site, to avoid any confusion.

Rise of the Robots?

Some sci-fi aficionados may worry that the implementation of biometric systems will lead to the dawning of a dystopian future presided over by “Big Brother”. There’s no cause for concern, though – no data collected from personnel is retained in any way that can be abused or illegally accessed. In fact, the fingerprints themselves are erased from the system once they have been mapped, so all that remains are the relevant coordinates that were recorded for the system’s unique use. The database of employees who are registered via a time and attendance system cannot be hacked to yield personal information or data, whether by individuals, terrorist cells, local police or MI5 themselves. In fact, the opposite is true – a biometric system is really the most secure way to store employee profile information, which can be deleted as soon as that individual leaves the organisation.

How Can My Company Obtain a Biometric Time and Attendance Management System?

If you feel that the use of a time and attendance management system would be of use to your company, the next step is to enter into discussions with a supplier. Equipment of this kind is so versatile that it is worth making a list of work currently undertaken by management or human resources that you would like to arrange to be automated, as it is highly likely that this could be covered by a time and attendance system. By calling Time and Attendance today on 01257 256000, you can find out more about what can be achieved using custom compiled software including your choice of add-ons. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

What can Time and Attendance Systems Track?

What to know the key to managing your employees on the shop floor? Read our latest blog post here on keeping track of your workforce.

If your job role involves running or assisting in the management of a company, you may be considering investing in a time and attendance system. Due to technological advancements, many administrative procedures have now been automated to allow managers and employees more time to focus on tasks that will improve a business’s productivity and effectiveness, and the installation of a time and attendance system can take this even further. You may think that the software simply constitutes a more straightforward way for workers to clock in and out of their shifts, but, in actuality, there’s a great deal more that can be achieved, duly taking a large weight off the minds of management and freeing up more hours in the day. Here are just a few things you can track and control with the help of a time and attendance system.

Attendance

Unsurprisingly, one of the chief purposes for which a time and attendance system is often used is the recording of staff arrival and departure times throughout a regular working day. Having an automated system involving data capture terminals present in the workplace – via which employees may sign in and out – makes it much easier to keep track of their hours and timekeeping. The system can be installed to cover multiple sites and automatically calculate a staff member’s total time spent at each.

Leave

Information regarding holiday allowances, sick leave and maternity leave can be logged by employees, management or human resources staff, allowing you to keep track of who is in and who is not throughout the year without having to juggle staffing matters manually.

Rotas

One of the biggest headaches a manager can come up against is that of creating an effective and watertight rota on a regular basis. If your employees’ work is shift-based, a time and attendance system can be programmed to ensure that any number of preferences can be taken into account. Whether you need an employee with a specific skill – say a trained first aider – present for each shift, or you wish to keep two staff members separate due to an ongoing dispute, a time and attendance system can create a whole bank of rotas matching all your stipulated parameters.

Access and permissions

It may be that some areas of your premises are restricted and can only be accessed by authorised or correctly trained personnel, which can prove difficult to regulate and potentially hazardous should security be looser than desired. Time and attendance systems can be enhanced with software that monitors these secure areas, and passwords or swipe cards can be implemented to assist with the regulation of access permissions.

“Shop floor” time management

If one of your aims is to improve the speed at which tasks are completed – therefore increasing turnover – time and attendance software is available that will undertake data capture and allow you to track the performance of individual workers or machines. This aspect comes with the added benefit of alerting management when automatic processes slow down, signalling a possible mechanical fault that may otherwise go unnoticed and could allow you to save money by having the equipment repaired as soon as an issue arises instead of having to replace the whole unit and suffering from the resulting lengthy downtime.

HR and employee services

Not only can employees log their own requests for holiday and leave, software can be included in a time and attendance management system that benefits them even further. Their training and specialisms can be logged in real time, showing where they may be able to progress and assisting in the development of their careers as well as ensuring that all members of staff are up to date with all necessary qualifications.

Company structure and hierarchy

It’s vital that all members of staff understand the makeup of the business for which they work, and this can prove notoriously difficult if employees work across a number of sites or for a larger organization. With a time and attendance management system, it is possible to set up options for staff search or a company structure display, allowing for a tighter team and better interdepartmental knowledge company wide.

These are just some of the elements of your business that can be improved through the installation of a time and attendance management system. For further information, get in touch with Time and Attendance today via 01257 256000 or email their helpful team today on sales@elf.uk.com to discuss your company’s unique needs and requirements.

The Pitter-Patter Of Tiny “Royal” Feet

Baby Love………check out our latest blog, on how best to manage your Maternity and Paternity absences.

The arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s third child is now imminent. All babies are special but somehow the birth of a “Royal Baby” brings with it an extra something, an extra special sparkle

The Great British public have always rejoiced when a Princess or “Duchess”, is due to give birth. The time spent waiting outside the hospital for any news, fades into insignificance once the baby has been born, as they happily celebrate with the Royal couple.

The obligatory photo-call on the steps, that all-important first glimpse of the new infant Prince or Princess are unique moments, happily shared, documented in time forever.

Yes, it’s reasonable to say a Royal Birth is somewhat unique.

So, what happens once everyone is back at Kensington Palace and the real hard work begins? What of William and Kate as parents to three small children – as maternity and paternity leave goes, this “time off” is pretty extraordinary.

With regards to Prince William’s role, he is a future King and as a full time Royal, he still has obligations. On the flip side however, he is just like any other husband and father; he will still need and want time off, not only to help Kate but to have that cherished bonding time with his new baby.

By having baby number three, are William and Kate, global modernisers that they both are, setting a trend by moving away from the traditional 2.5? Is now the time that we are going to see a return and an inclination towards a desire for larger families?

By putting careers first, people are also choosing to start their families later in life. Fathers are currently more likely to take their paternity leave than ever before. With that information in mind, workplaces and “palaces” need to be confident that they have the necessary processes in place, in order to manage their mandatory leave of absence. Maternity and paternity leave is perhaps going to become a bigger topic in the coming years.

Shared Parental Leave (SPL) is another choice that parents have, something which, depending upon your circumstances can prove to be an attractive option. No doubt this is something, as an impending mother of three, the Duchess of Cambridge would be happy to consider.

Maternity and paternity leave; shared or not, needn’t be a daunting experience for any Human Resource Department. With the right processes in place, this scheduled leave/time off CAN be managed appropriately.

ELF Productivity Limited’s, Time and Attendance Ceequel® software suite is the current forerunner in automated processes; our leading array of software contains a centralised Human Resource module which will enhance your Time and Attendance processes. This module comprises, amongst others, an absence view that encompasses all elements of Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave. Another division of the Human Resource module is Training and Development. This field will prove to be an extremely useful tool, especially if you require or need extra training for that scheduled maternity cover.

The Graphical Absence View and Planner will also provide you with an overview of an employee’s absence for any selected year – thus allowing time for future planning.

Flexible-working, part-time working, complex shift patterns, TOIL (Time off in Lieu) – no – these are not scenarios from the day in the life of a typical Royal, they are just a few of the other complexities that ELF Productivity Limited can also help you with.

So, with that in mind are you in need of an extra “majestic” safe pair of hands for your company? Do you need a “regal” and sophisticated software system to help you stay up to date with all the Human Resource developments in your company? If so, choose the best Human Resource module on the market, choose ELF.

If you would like to know more about the supreme functionality of Ceequel® Software Suite, including our leading Time and Attendance modules; the downloadable catalogue of brochures can be found here.

Contact ELF Productivity today for a free no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software.

They Think It’s All Over……

“It’s coming home, it’s coming home” – Check out our World Cup blog as the countdown to Russia 2018 begins.

“They think it’s all over ….it is now!”

Those immortal words, spoken by Kenneth Wolstenholme at Wembley Stadium on 30th July 1966, were in celebration of the glorious and “only” England FIFA World Cup victory. Months of hard toil by the squad had paid off and the country celebrated like never before.

Yes, it’s that time again! The FIFA World Cup in Russia kicks off in just over three months’ time and football fever is already hotting up!

The England team’s expectations are high and given their polished qualification result, so is their preparation. As we get ready to enter into the most special of football tournaments, what are England’s chances this year? Could this be the year that England show up and deliver the greatest football of THEIR time and THEIR generation?

Every four years, homes and workplaces across the country suddenly become engrossed in the national side. Everyone has their opinion on how the team should play and everybody is an “expert”. Football becomes THE number one discussion, as conversations consist of but not exclusively, to the following:-

The Techno Hipster
This particular persona is often found at their local watering hole, usually dressed in skinny chinos, holding a pint in one hand, whilst pontificating to anyone that will listen about statistics, data analysis and the science “behind” the game – all the time caressing his somewhat striking beard!

The Best Wannabe Manager in the World
“What were they thinking of putting HIM into the line-up ……. HE’S USELESS!!!”

The Irksome Colleague
In their head, this person IS Ronaldo! They love nothing more than accosting people for several minutes/hours at a time in the kitchen, by the photocopier etc. Likes to dissect and relive every second of the match with you………… married to the game!

The Fantasy Penalty Taker
This individual knows the exact run-up, angle, time, distance and grass length it requires to take the perfect penalty. They never fail to relay this information during a match, as unlike the England team, THEIR penalties ALWAYS hit the back of the net!

The Suburban Social Climber
This particular neighbour “suddenly” finds that their dog can dribble and head a ball into any net, open window or doorway. They take great pleasure in alerting the entire neighbourhood to this rare feat; usually regaled at their obligatory World Cup Soiree’. For the duration of the tournament, “said dog” is nicknamed “Maradogga”!

Here at ELF Productivity Limited, we too are partial to a World Cup party. The “ELF Boss” is pretty generous in allowing us time-out to watch the game. He’s partial to, pretty much ALL of the post-match chit-chat that ultimately resonates around the company after a “big match”. Refer to “The Best Wannabe Manager in the World” point.

All joking apart, it is fair to say that England loves and enjoys the “beautiful game”.

The odds on England making it through the group stages have increased this year. The team is vibrant and hungry for success. What if this year WAS England’s time?

So, with that in mind, if England were to get through to the knock-out stages once again, what processes are in place for your workplace this summer; to help not only with a jolly “end of term” atmosphere but to manage the “sudden” absence requests?

Have your current processes, like a lot of Premiership players, turned out to be under-performing gaffes? Is now the time for you to “blow the whistle” and show them YOUR “red card”?

ELF Productivity Limited’s, Time and Attendance software suite is the current market leader in automated processes. Key elements within Ceequel® are two remote applications; Ceequel® Mobile Apps and Employee Self Service. These applications, that have been created for Android, Apple and Windows devices, will ultimately improve your Time and Attendance processes. They not only permit employees to clock “in and out” remotely, allowing for a more flexible working pattern but they will also “pin-point” the exact location of your remote workers.

Ceequel® is constantly progressing and we are currently refining our Time and Attendance software with fresh concepts, designs and ideas.

Contact ELF Productivity today for a free no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software and make 2018 the year that you “strike out” and gain a winning team-mate for your company.