Biometric – Page 3 – Time and Attendance

Culture Trends For 2019

With February just around the corner and the last of the Christmas chocs a distant memory, 2019 is now in full swing.

2019, the year that seemed a long way off in 2016, the year we had ‘the’ vote. Did someone say the ‘B’ word?

Well now you mention it….

With our Brexit departure from the EU now just weeks away, business growth and recruitment possibilities for this coming year have been pushed right to the forefront. So, with the clock now counting down to Friday 29th March, do you even know what your essential needs are when it comes to your workforce requirements for 2019?

Is maintaining stability the priority, or is now the time for you to step out and achieve some real business development?

For both to be attained AND retained, you need the appropriate team in place.

As reported by a leading HR magazine, the top culture trends to watch out for and recruit in 2019 are a bit of a mixed bunch.

Let’s look at just three.

• Hyper-Flexibility

As an employer, how ‘flexi’ are you prepared to be? According to a report by Mercer, 72% of full-time employees have voiced that they would consider working on a contingent or contract basis.
2019 is shaping up to be the year where employees would prefer greater freedom and choice within their working day. If you are a progressive company, you are probably already at least considering flexible and remote working options for your staff.
A healthy work-life balance is now being recognised as a must, especially for employees with obligations at both ends of the collective scale; children versus ageing dependant parents. Employees stuck in a cycle of never-ending tension, with the stress transferring to the workplace.

• Generation Z

2017 was the year Generation Z entered the workforce. A report by Manpower has revealed that by 2020, this generation will make up 24% of the global workforce. The age-old joke of police officers appearing younger and younger will strike a chord with many people – because it will be true!. We can expect a generation of degree educated individuals to emerge and due to their Play-Station digital upbringing, technology will be second nature.
And the generation that is to follow; ‘Generation Alpha’ the children of the Millennials, let’s not go there just yet. In a recent video clip produced by Hotwire, a global PR Agency, a young participant was filmed exclaiming that they would rather have an I-pad than a puppy!

• Soft-Skills

What’s soft about a skill? Soft-skills are the time and tested skill-set that appears to be enjoying a revival within Human Resources. The ‘bread and butter’ skills that every company recognises, especially within their middle management set-up. Good communication, time management, time-keeping, problem-solving, creativity and leadership. As the workforce in general becomes older; see our previous blog post A Growing Mature Workforce, these skills are the safe pair of hands that businesses of all shapes and sizes requires to advise, steer and help.
They are particularly useful with younger employees, especially around the delicate issues of texting/emailing rather than engaging in an ‘actual’ conversation.

Technology is impressive but it will never replace the art of having a real discussion in the workplace. Like the British stiff upper lip, it will never go out of fashion.

ELF Productivity and CEEQUEL® software suite, always on trend, constantly developing new ideas, progressive and most importantly, adaptable to every scenario and situation. A tried and tested Biometric Time and Attendance Management software system for ALL your workforce.

For a closer look at CEEQUEL® software for your business,Contact ELF Productivity Ltd today or alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here.

To Duvet Or Not To Duvet, That Is The Question.

A gentle reminder, just in case you had forgotten……the clocks turn back this weekend.

What is that you whisper, “It can’t be, not already, it’s still warm”!

After experiencing its hottest and driest summer since the infamous 1976 heatwave, the UK is now tootling headlong into mid-winter.

As we prepare to say goodbye to good old British summertime for another year and embrace GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) again, preparations for the advancing winter months are now well underway.

First up on the horizon are the obligatory cold and frosty mornings – nothing wakes you up faster than chipping away at an icy windscreen!

Quicker than the time it takes to de-ice your car, Christmas is knocking at the door. Before you have time to polish off that mammoth, impulse-buy turkey you just had to have, you will find yourself ringing in a snowy and icy New Year…. you get the picture.

On the plus side to this winter wonderland, we get to experience long, warm and cosy nights curled up in front of the fire. We get to partake in the cultural activity that is the clocking-off snowball “fight-off” but for some, there just isn’t enough recompense; the shorter daytime hours really are dreaded.

As we head into the “most wonderful time of the year” Human Resource Departments up and down the land are bracing themselves for the infamous and predictable Monday morning telephone calls, which usually go a little something like this….

Cough cough, “Hello, I’m really sorry but I can’t come in to work today, I’m really not feeling well, cough, cough, I think I might have flu”

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry to hear that, do you think you will be in tomorrow”?

Cough, cough accompanied by the required croaky and tired sounding voice, “I will try my best”.

Possibly not flu….

It’s textbook, you could write the script, you know it and we know it too.

Everyone recognises the scenario, as soon as the dark and cold mornings appear, what is normally passed off as the usual ‘Monday Morning Blues’ now becomes the……’Duvet Day’

In case you weren’t aware, the UK is apparently the “sickie” capital of Europe.

Research Group ADP recently surveyed 2,000 people across France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK.

In the UK, an astonishing 27% of the people surveyed thought it was “acceptable” to take a ‘Duvet Day’ when they weren’t ill, whilst the European average percentage who thought it WAS acceptable to pull a ‘sickie’ was 21% – 6 percentage points lower than the UK!

So where are we going wrong?

Why do people feel that it is somewhat acceptable to have a cavalier attitude towards work? More importantly, whose responsibility is it to not only address this issue but to put it right?

Within any business the most obvious answer is to build better working relationships and create suitable working options for ALL your employees.

By supporting, motivating and encouraging your staff, you will be helping to alleviate once and for all, the temptation that they have, which makes them want to turn over in bed, hit the snooze button, pull the duvet even tighter and make “that” telephone call.

At the same time, you need to recognise and give the appropriate support and choices to those employees who you know are genuinely ill or who have a valid reason for their absence.

Flexi-time, along with remote working options for your employees, these are all possibilities for your business, these are all possibilities that CEEQUEL® software can help you with.

ELF Productivity recognises that a happy and committed workforce = better output and improved productivity for your business.

Established in 1982, ELF Productivity Ltd has emerged as a leading force in Biometric Time Management solutions, there is no Time and Attendance scenario that CEEQUEL® has not experienced.

With a Time Management system that allows you to monitor ALL of your workforce, CEEQUEL® software is at the cutting edge when it comes to a Time and Attendance solution for ALL your Human Resource requirements.

Interested in learning more?

Do you need to take the anxiety out of your Monday mornings?

Contact ELF Productivity Ltd today and be confident and reassured with the knowledge that you and your staff are better prepared and equipped, for what this winter holds.

For a closer look at CEEQUEL® software, the portfolio of brochures can be downloaded here

A Growing Mature Workforce and What to Do About It

The BBC reported recently on the RSPCA receiving an official warning from the Charity Commission. The warning was issued after interim CEO Michael Ward received a 6 figure sum as a payoff; allegedly the result of challenging the recruitment process.

Michael Ward was appointed interim Chief Executive in June 2017; however he claimed he was a victim of age discrimination when a younger candidate was appointed to the role permanently. He stated that he did not get the permanent post due to his age and the RSPCA subsequently paid out a sum well over his £150,000 salary.

How old is Michael Ward?

Michael is 57 years old.

Every day there appears to be something else reported in the media, whether that is social or economic, regarding an ever present, growing, ageing workforce.

Surely workers shouldn’t be made to feel that they have nothing else to offer within the workplace, once they have reached 50 and beyond?

Sadly, discrimination on the shop-floor and indeed the office isn’t new. Workers from all sides of the social spectrum have experienced it.

From part-time workers, to new parents returning to work and finding their position isn’t the one they left behind when they embarked on their maternity/paternity leave. Inexperienced adolescents on training schemes, or mature workers considered “too long in the tooth” for a real shot at promotion or leadership.

How times have changed.

Thirty years ago, had you decided to carry on working after the ages of 60 and 65 respectively, you would’ve been looked at incredulously.

Sadly in today’s economic climate that is not the case and unfortunately for the majority, it is not a choice.

Today the country has a serious issue right under its nose; a very real mature workforce and it is G R O W I N G!

The retirement age in the UK has risen considerably. From next year the State Pension Age will increase again for both men and women, rising to 66 by October 2020. Another increase by the Government is planned between 2026 and 2028, where it will then rise from 66 to 67 years.

State pensions saved hard for retirement, now not accessible until the worker is almost 70!

The pride and joy that is our NHS has certainly done its job well over the last 70 years but at the same time, it probably hasn’t helped. With better and more accessible healthcare, the NHS has become a victim of its own success.

With improved standards of living and better employment rights, people are now quite easily reaching 90 and 100 years old, however, with no real structure in place to provide for this ageing population, the mature workforce has little or no option but to carry on working.

Workers in their 70’s or even 80’s are being reported as to still be “clocking in” via the national and local media.

So, what do we do about it and what methods are you putting into place to take care of the “Baby Boomer” and subsequent “Generation X” age groups?

With the onset of AI, you as an employer not only have a duty of care but a responsibility to re-train your mature workforce. With remote and flexible working now becoming more and more mainstream, this is the most obvious option available, for ALL your employees.

With a more generational workforce in place, companies will have the benefit of both worlds; youth and vitality vs experience and wisdom.

With that information on board, if you haven’t looked at the options out there to cater for your employees, isn’t it time that you did?

ELF Productivity Ltd is at the forefront when it comes to managing your workforce successfully, effectively and efficiently.

CEEQUEL® Biometric Time and Attendance software suite is developed in-house by our team of highly skilled and experienced developers. With software modules available for every possibility and a solution for EVERY Human Resource department issue, CEEQUEL® is the essential daily “tool “that your business needs.

Whether that need is the company incorporating a training matrix for an apprenticeship placement, performing a return to work interview for maternity/paternity leave or granting flexible working shift patterns and remote working, CEEQUEL® is THE collaborator that your company necessitates.

CEEQUEL® software is at the cutting edge in terms of originality, innovation and uniqueness.

Where others follow, CEEQUEL® leads.

If you are interested in implementing a real change in your company’s Time and Attendance processes, a change that benefits your ENTIRE workforce, download the brochure portfolio and contact the sales department today on 01257 256000, for a free no obligation quotation and demonstration of CEEQUEL® software.

Grease Is The Word

“I got chills, they’re multiplying”! Have a read of our latest blog post and discover how the original is ALWAYS the best.

This year sees the 40th Anniversary of that timeless classic movie of 1950’s teenage angst….. GREASE!

That’s right, the all singing, all dancing, hand-jiving ageless flick which turned Olivia Newton John and John Travolta into overnight stars, has reached the BIG 40!

To understand how Grease became THE movie of 1978 – if not all time, Vince Fontaine probably sums it up the best with his understated line “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose; it’s what you do with your dancin’ shoes”

Admit it; you really didn’t think that 40 years had passed by since you were singing “Summer Nights” and declaring “Sandy! You just can’t walk out of a drive-in”!

Time, unfortunately for everyone, really does have a habit of ticking by.

Even though 1978 still seems like yesterday for some of you; long hot summers, Spangles and Marathon bars (ask your Mum) does anyone remember or even realise that there was actually a sequel to Grease in the 1980’s?

Even though there were some great films in the ‘80’s, Grease 2 sadly isn’t one of them.

Released with great hype and expectation, the film has the same style of characters but without any of the original “chemistry “or endearing quality that everyone felt with The Pink Ladies and the T-Birds. By trying to recreate the original and as we all know you can’t improve on the genuine article, they produced a big fat dud! Ultimately, that familiar sense of “this is not what I was expecting” kicked in. The cinema paying public definitely weren’t “Hopelessly Devoted” to THIS sequel and gave it a big thumbs down!

To be fair, how can you improve on something that was so imaginative, so creative, that even now 40 years later, is still adored?

Sadly, this is what it can feel like with Time & Attendance Management systems. On the surface they may look and sound alike but not all Time & Attendance software is the same.

Here at ELF Productivity Limited, authors of the original CEEQUEL® software suite, we have been at the forefront of Biometric Time & Attendance and Human Resource Management since 1982. Other Time & Attendance systems may give the impression that they are comparable to ELF but CEEQUEL® is distinctive.

What sets ELF Productivity apart from all other systems is that our understanding and proficiency is incomparable. CEEQUEL® software is constantly evolving and as we advance into another new phase of development, we remain the definitive enterprise in Time & Attendance procedures – in other words the “Real McCoy”.

Software that works harder and deployed the way you want it, either via your existing IT infrastructure or via the cloud. CEEQUEL® Apps for iPhone, Android and Windows, provides your workforce with worldwide connectivity.

CEEQUEL® Employee Self Service and E-Manager modules will equip you with all the tools necessary, to enable you to manage not only your HR obligations but your remote and flexible workforce, whilst Access Control and Shop Floor Data Capture will come alongside and help you monitor and keep track of your entire workforce.

So, with all that information in mind, is CEEQUEL® software suite “The One That You Want” for your company this year? Do you need a Biometric Time & Attendance system that will “Go Together” with your existing workforce?

If so, choose the number 1 in Time & Attendance Management, choose the original CEEQUEL®

If you would like to know more about the advanced and revolutionary software suite that is CEEQUEL® our index of brochures can be found here.

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

And remember, keep dancin’!

Why It’s Time to Replace Your Clocking In Cards

Fed up of outdated clocking in cards? Have a read of our latest blog post here and discover the benefits that a bio-metric recognition system can bring to your workplace.

Clocking in cards have been used for generations, and it’s really starting to show. The system was created in the late nineteenth century and many alternatives have since been developed that have made the process of recording employees’ working hours many times easier. If your company still uses this system, it may be time for a change. Here are a few reasons why you ought to throw out your company’s old clocking in method and take on something new.

Speed

It’s no secret that time cards take time to process. In many cases, it seems almost impossible to obtain enough clocking machines to reduce the backlog of employees at the beginning and end of a shift, and for offices that support the traditional nine to five working day, the queue to “stamp” time cards can get ridiculous.

Security

Any system that relies on a card, pass or fob to allow employees access to their workspace or to record their attendance has the potential to be compromised. The likelihood of timecards being misplaced or passed between staff members for the purposes of “buddy clocking” is high. There are other means of recording time and attendance that are much more effective and watertight.

Complexity

Many older clocking in systems rely on management or HR downloading or transferring the data they have collected, then processing it in order to undertake payroll duties or record attendance anomalies. More up to date alternatives are able to directly record information in real time, and can be programmed to create their own reports and process information automatically, meaning there is no further work required and a great deal of time and effort is saved.

Environment

Timecards may be small, but how many does your company get through in a year? Add that to the hundreds of other businesses that still rely on outdated clocking in systems across the country, and the amount of paper used unnecessarily really does add up. Systems that don’t rely on new cards being used every week, work wonders when it comes to your environmental impact.

So What Can We Use Instead?

The next step up from a clocking in card system is the use of proximity clocking terminals. This approach involves the use of fobs, cards or badges to allow employees access to areas of their workplace and an effective method to clock in and out. Yes, the items used can still be forgotten, lost, stolen or passed around, but they are extremely easy to use; all that is required is that they are touched against a pad or sensor. This system is also extremely quick, meaning multiple workers can enter and exit the premises without a large queue forming. Proximity clocking can also be combined with software that enables real-time updates and automatic data management.

One of the most up to date means of clocking in is the use of biometric recognition. Depending on preference, a company can choose between fingerprint scanners, facial scanners and retinal scanners – all of which are highly effective and exceptionally secure. These time and attendance methods do not rely on an external gadget or accessory to allow them to function – the employees themselves are their own pass. There should be no concerns about personal data security either; the fingerprints or other images are not retained. The system simply records certain points within each image and creates a code from them. The original information is then erased and only the unique code remains. While this system can sometimes take a little longer than the use of proximity clocking depending on the number of individuals needing to use it at any one time, this can be remedied by simply installing more terminals. It is a highly effective and can also be integrated within software that updates in real time and can be programmed to extract all required data and create reports.

If you’re ready to update your clocking in system, get in touch with ELF Productivity Limited today. They offer a wide range of products to suit every workplace, along with exceptionally useful software that will save managers and HR officers a huge amount of time processing data, organising payroll and authorising leave. This will give your company a greater opportunity to focus on the future. Call now on 01257 256000 or email sales@elf.uk.com to discuss your specific needs and find out what ELF Productivity Limited can offer you.

Biometric Time and Attendance for your organisation

Biometrics systems were once considered only useful when it came to securing business locations. However over time more and more businesses have began using biometric capabilities as a means to track their employees time and attendance data. The use of a biometric systems drastically simplifies the way in which your employee clock-in data is recorded.

The use of biometric security technology within organisations has dramatically developed over the years with many businesses now using it to do more than just act as an access control system to secure personal information, intellectual property rights or access office buildings. Organisations are now using biometric technology as a means to accurately check and record employee time and attendance data.

Keeping track of how many hours each employee worked was once a complicated task. Mechanical time clocks were often unreliable and slow which often lead to long queues during shift changes or at the start and end of the day. Many employees would often forget to clock and due to the use of time sheets or proximity cards employers often became victim to ‘buddy clocking’. “Buddy clocking” is when employees clock for a friend who is either running late or in larger organisations one that may not even be present.

Inaccurate time and attendance data can add substantial cost onto your payroll processes. Not knowing the exact hours of your entire workforce often means some employees can be over or under payed. Under payed employees require the attention of human resources to manually correct any mistakes that have been made. This process is time consuming and costly for all organisations.

Biometric Time and Attendance

The use of biometric technology eradicates fraudulent clocking’s, costly time delays and the recording of inaccurate data. The most popular biometric systems companies use are fingerprint or facial recognition. Both systems capture data and then compare this to an individual’s unique algorithm template.

The CEEQUEL biometric time and attendance system is easy to use and records accurate employee clock in data that can then be accessed by authorised personnel in real-time. This information allows managers to identify, at the earliest opportunity, when members of staff are absent giving them time to organise any cover which may be required. Integrating the CEEQUEL HR module in to your time and attendance also allows your managers to track all employee absences. Employers can filter the data recorded using a number of different criteria’s allowing them to identify any employees with either a high or low absence rate, based upon KPI’s specific to your business. Information about each absence can be stored within the systems and fit notes attached where needed. This provides managers with the information to correctly manage absences.

For more information on how biometric time and attendance could work for your organisation contact us today!

Clock Software improvements overtime

Overtime more and more organisations have turned to a time and attendance system as a means to monitor their employees. Advancing technology now also means that the systems available come with a greater range of capabilities making them even more appealing to business.

Clock Software

Many businesses are already familiar with the term time and attendance. Most employees have either used a time and attendance system in the past or understand the concept of one. After all recording employee clocking data for time and attendance purposes isn’t anything new. Businesses have been using these types of systems to monitor employees since the twentieth century. Employees previously used card based systems that required them to manually write down all clocking occasions. The problem with using a card based system is that the data collected wasn’t always correct. Employees couldn’t always remember the exact time they clocked and some would often manipulate their times, if they had perhaps taken a longer lunch or arrived late. Employees in organisations that paid overtime would often award themselves extra hours on top of their contracted. Paper based cards were not only inaccurate but played havoc with organisational payroll as employees were often over paid costing businesses thousands and in some cases millions per annum.

As technology advanced so did the type of systems organisations began using for their time and attendance needs. New modern day systems accurately track and record all employee clocking data drastically simplifying the time and attendance process. There are now a number of different types of clock software available to business all with different capabilities.

Proximity clock software

Proximity software allow employees to register clocking’s by using either a fob or a proximity card. An employee simply needs to hold up their given card to the time and attendance system which will then instantly identify them and clock them in/out. A back up method of clocking can also be configured in case the first means fails or for when an employee has forgotten their proximity card/fob.

Biometric clock software

Biometric clock software are available with fingerprint and facial recognition capabilities. Employees are required to enrol their fingerprint or face onto the main clocking station. This information is then passed through to all other clocks (subject to permissions) within an organisation meaning employees can clock from anywhere within the building or even at other geographical locations for multi-site companies.

Biometrics over traditional passwords

Many of us use password authentication on a day to day basis in order to access secured content. However over the years other forms of authentication have been growing ever more popular within younger age groups and a recent study done by GIGYA on 4,000 adults in the US an UK confirmed this.

Using passwords as a form of authentication to gain access to resources is considered the norm. Many of us have multiple passwords we remember on a daily basis that we use to access to our personal accounts. A recent survey done by GIGYA on 4,000 adults in the US and UK however showed that within certain age groups next-generation authentication methods were becoming ever more popular.

After all password protection can sometimes be a real pain. The procedure to re set your password can be long and tedious, especially if the site you’re trying to gain access to needs you to answer security questions or input a reset code. Fifty two percent of people surveyed said they would completely overhaul the use of username and passwords in favour of other forms of authentication. Millennials were the most welcoming to change with fifty percent of the people surveyed saying they had already used a form of biometric authentication. Sixty six percent of millennials also admitted to owning one or more device that integrates with biometric technology compared to forty eight percent of gen x and thirty percent of baby boomers. With more devices allowing for biometric authentication Jupiter research group estimate that more than 770 million biometric enabled applications per year will be downloaded by 2019 this is a significant increase compared to the 6 million in 2015.

Biometric authentication is definitely on the rise and for obvious reasons. Using one’s finger or face as a means to access what we need is not only quick but also more convenient. No one wants to have to remember an absurd amount of usernames and passwords or spend the time answering questions when they are forgotten. Password authentication is also not the most secure method. Many people choose to use the same password for multiple accounts or use a personalised one they are less likely to forget. The problem with this is that accounts can easily be hacked by hackers with a bit of time on their hands. Companies who use password authentications are sometimes not the most secure either. Even huge companies such as Apple and Microsoft have found themselves in the past fall victims of a data breach. Biometric systems are more secure than passwords as they require your personal touch. Access is only granted when you scan your fingerprint or face making it almost impossible for someone who isn’t you to gain access. Eighty percent of people that took part in the survey agree that biometric systems are more secure.

Biometrics within business

With next generation authentication methods on the rise its imperative businesses stay on top of the trend. The implementation of a biometric access control system into your organisation will revolutionise the way you’re employee’s clock rendering old punch code systems useless. Biometric systems can be set up to allow access on a door by door basis. Access can be limited to certain times and days. Employee access can also be limited to certain areas of an organisation.

For more information on what access control can do for your organisation and the available solutions contact us today!

Modern day work place security

Making sure your business is secure in every way is a crucial to the success of your organisation. Companies who do not have systems in place to protect their premises or key data risk having their possessions n information stolen. Access control systems are designed to stop this from happening by securing every aspect of a business.

Access Control

Securing your business premises and the key data kept inside is paramount to any business owner. The most common method, organisations use to do this is by using an access control solution. Access control systems work by limiting and monitoring access to your organisations premises and secure data Files. Many organisations have already begun to experience the added benefits of an access control solution. Below are the three main ways in which an access control solution will revolutionise your business security.

The benefits of an access control System

Customisable

An access control system is by far the safest way to secure your organisation. Access can be controlled on a door by door basis minimising your risk of exposure. Employees are only allowed to access permitted areas of your building or the required information needed to complete their job. Limiting who has access to what information within your organisation means that if a data breach was to take place the list of possible suspects is significantly lower making it easier to find the person responsible. Not only can you limit employees to certain parts of your organisation you can also limit them to specific times and days. If as a company you shut down completely on public holidays or over festive periods, then having an access control system in place allows you to completely lock down your premises.

History logging

All access data is collected in real time and logged onto your time and attendance system. Information is not only stored every time an employee clocks in/out but also when employees try to access areas that are restricted to them. This information is easily accessible to line mangers and notifications can even be set up to alert them as soon as access is denied. This information is also imperative when it comes to investigating data theft or physical property damage. The information can also be used to track any individual employee’s movements you may be sceptical of.

Keyless

Employees no longer need to worry about locking themselves out of the office as most access control systems don’t require a physical key to gain access to a building or area. Access is granted using a number of different innovative technologies. Biometric systems permit employee access through the use of fingerprint or facial recognition. Proximity systems require employees to carry a key card or fob which will need to be presented within 3-5cm of the reader. Each system can be supplied with a backup clocking method.

Access control systems are regenerating the way organisations secure not only their office space but also the key information stored inside. For more information on how an access control system could help you, contact us today!

Time and attendance for business and the available access control solutions

Organisations have been using time and attendance systems as a means to track employee clocking data for over 20 years. Old card based systems were slow and unreliable and as technology advanced new cutting edge real time systems took there place. Employees are no longer limited to how they can clock as most systems now come with a range of different options. The introduction of biometric and proximity technology now means that clocking can be completed in a number of seconds.

Access Control

Time and attendance within a business is not a new concept. Organisations have been using paper cards as a means of clocking employee working hours since the 20^thcentury. The problem with using a paper card system is that it’s extremely unreliable. Paper is easily lost and even if the card remained safe there was never any way of knowing if the times written on the sheet were accurate. This caused major problems for companies when it came to payroll, meaning employees were often over or under paid. An employee who has been under paid is less likely to work to their full potential meaning productivity levels in the work place often drop. Low productivity levels and overpaid staff can lead to organisations losing out on thousands a year.

As times changed and technology advanced so did the type of systems organisations use to track their employees time and attendance data. Electronic automated clocking systems now record accurate employee data in real time. As data no longer needs to be manually imputed human resources departments are able to focus on more pressing tasks.

The benefits of having a fully functioning time and attendance system

The main benefit for a company which uses a time and attendance system is that the data being collected always remains accurate. As all employee clock-ins are collected through an electronic system, the chances of fraudulent clocking is significantly reduced. Employee time-thefts are also reduced as clockings can be completed via an IP based clock device, over a browser and even through a mobile device. This allows employees to clock from any location whilst on the go. Notifications can be set up within the system to alert managers when staff clock late or leave early. These alerts inform an employer of attendance issues at the earliest stage.

Companies who implemented punch card systems often became victims of ‘buddy clocking’. Employees would often clock in for their “colleagues” when they were perhaps running late or had opted to take a longer break than allowed. Almost all time and attendance systems available today, come with technology which can make it impossible for an employee to clock as anyone but themselves.

Human resource departments are at the forefront of any business. It manages all employee data and ensures that all information they have remains correct and up to date. The underlying issues surrounding this is that manually checking and manipulating data can be time consuming and extremely costly. Data collation and maintenance rapidly drains the resource available in most HR departments, meaning that information is often neglected or mislaid. Any dynamic software solution should combine both Time & Attendance and HR System within one scalable database.

One database means the eradication of double keying information as data entered is immediately filtered throughout the system.

Most now come equipped with employee self-service (ESS) capabilities which provides employees with an easy-to-use web based interface allowing them to update their own personal data, without needing to contact their HR department. Employees with access to ESS can also view information relating to their shift patterns, holidays – requested, planned or taken, together with full information on their weekly clockings and pay premiums.

Employees are able to request holidays or absences using employee self-serve and any absence requests are forwarded to their line manager for approval. Once a request has been accepted it is automatically imputed into the employee’s calendar, removing any need for the employee to contact HR.

Implementing an automated time and attendance system can also help a business’s stay on the right side of any legislation. Manual systems make it difficult for companies to track things such as overtime and overall hours worked. Both have high legal requirements that if not obeyed can lead to an employee perusing corrective action via an employment tribunal.

The available Access control solutions

Over the years, the number of Time & Attendance systems available to businesses has significantly increased. Advancing technology is often utilised by the companies who manufacturing T&A systems creating a wider choice of cutting edge systems. Each system is designed with its own capabilities and can permit access to employees in a number of different ways.

Biometric systems

Biometric access control systems are becoming ever more popular. These technologies offer cutting edge opportunities – look impressive to visitors and because they rely on unique employee features time-theft is completely eradicated.

Fingerprint biometric Time & Attendance units are the most common systems implemented into companies as they now have a 99.9% accuracy rate. As Time & Attendance systems act as one big database, information collected on one terminal, is automatically passed through to all the other terminals within the business. This provides employees the ability to clock at any terminal within the building. Facial recognition software works in exactly the same way. Once enrolled, template information is distributed automatically throughout the company’s device estate.

Most Time & Attendance systems can be integrated with an access control unit. Businesses with an integrated access control and Time & Attendance system, are able to restrict access on a door-by-door basis, making sure that only authorised employees gain access to sensitive areas. Access can also be restricted by date and time allowing companies to lock down their business premises over festive periods, during bank holidays and after working hours.

Proximity technology

Proximity access control systems have always required an employee to swipe their access card in order to clock. The processes of swiping a card however can be time consuming. Employees in a busy environment often swipe their cards too quickly for a system to recognise who they are, forcing them to slow down and problems begin as ques start to form into the building especially at busy periods of the day.

As Proximity technology advanced – so did the systems and options available. The invention of contactless technology now means that access control cards and fobs are designed to permit access without the need to swipe. An employee simply needs to hold their card up to the device in order to gain access or register a clocking.

Intercom and integration with VOIP

Intercom systems have been the chosen solution for granting visitor access into buildings for a number of years. More often than not, they come with audio capabilities but as costs decrease, more are being installed with both audio and video capabilities.

As companies move towards a combined VIOP infrastructure, external intercom can now be fully integrated with your VIOP telephone system, providing full control of your external access points to any extension on your telephone system.

Barrier automation and turnstiles

Automated barriers or turnstiles now provide control to companies of who has access to your perimeter, company carpark, warehouses or any other company land.

Securing the first point of access to your organisation adds an extra level of security when protecting your business. Both barriers and turnstiles can be configured to only allow access to registered employees within your company’s Time & Attendance database. Access can be granted using biometric or proximity technology and time profiles can be set up in order to stop people from accessing the premises outside of working hours or on certain days.

There are a number of different types of barriers available including sliding gates, ground mounted bollards and rising arm barriers. Turnstiles are also available for both internal and external applications and are usually configured with anti-pass-back technology.

For more information on what a time and attendance system is, the benefits it could have on your business and the available access control systems, contact us today!