How to Accurately Manage Employee Time Cards

Most business owners know that it’s not just a good idea to track time for team members – its essential.

After all, it’s important for not only ensuring that your team is paid on time and accurately, but it’s also a key part of maintaining compliance with Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations. Having a good system for employee time management can also represent a significant cost savings as well, when you consider the time saved with payroll processing and data transfer; something that payroll automation can reduce the cost of by up to 80 percent.

In addition to accuracy in paychecks and time saved with payroll processing, a robust time tracking system can also help to streamline and improve accuracy when it comes to invoicing and estimates too. Not only will you be able to bill clients with confidence knowing that the total hours you’re charging for have been documented as worked, you’ll also be able to create future estimates with greater accuracy as well.

Paying attention to your employees’ hours is an important part of managing a company, but as you undoubtedly realize if you have more than one or two hourly employees, it’s all but impossible to keep track of it, accurately, on your own. Without the right system, it can be tremendously frustrating, and if you have employees who work from home one or two days a week, or a remote workforce, then time tracking can be even more complicated. Paper time cards quickly become obsolete, even if you’re only running a small business.

Fortunately, accurate time cards don’t have to be an elusive dream. With the right time tracking solution in place, you can not only ensure accuracy, but will be able to streamline the entire time tracking system. With an updated system, both you and your employees will benefit.

Of course, not all time tracking solutions are created equal. Each one varies considerably in terms of capabilities and what they offer. To help you find and successfully implement an ideal solution, here’s a look at a few things that you’ll want to keep in mind.

Go Mobile

Keeping track of when your employees clock in and clock out can be challenging, especially if you hire contract workers or allow your employees to work from home. With a mobile time tracking solution, though, you can drastically boost the accuracy of your team’s time cards. No more guessing their location or work hours, and no need to disrupt your team’s workflow to verify that they’re working when they claim to be. The best app for tracking employee time simplifies the process for you.

Think User-Friendly

Perhaps the biggest mistake you can make when upgrading your system is to upgrade to a employee timesheet solution that isn’t user-friendly. Asking your employees to use time data recordkeeping that’s hard to navigate can create frustration and lead to an overall lack of participation. Be sure that the software you choose is user-friendly to increase enthusiasm and participation. If the system is easy-to-use, then transitioning your employees over should be a straightforward process.

Make Changes As Needed

It’s important to remember that not all systems will be flawless from the start. There will be a transition period that’ll take place, no matter how seamless the management software is, and you’ll want to ensure that you’re on hand during the first day or two to address any questions that arise; just in case.

Don’t Micromanage

Once you’ve implemented an easy time clock login, it can be easy to fall back into the pattern of following your employees around and double-checking their time. It’s important to resist this temptation, however, and rest easy knowing that your employees are capable of accurately tracking their own time, without you looking over their shoulder in real-time. Not only will micromanagement discourage them, but it will defeat the purpose of the software as well! Didn’t you want to use your free time to focus on other aspects of your business and reduce labor costs?

Ensure that your employees have been trained on how to use the new software and are comfortable using it, then step away and let things work the way they were intended to. If you have all the right protocols and systems in place you shouldn’t have to micromanage your employees’ time cards any longer.