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Guide to Employee Attendance Tracking

TimeWellScheduled

“Leaders affect the entire workplace. When leaders are late, it sends an irresponsible message to employees, which may lower morale; when leaders are punctual, it exhibits a work ethic to aspire to.” – Johnson D. Elias.

Employee attendance tracking ensures that employees are fulfilling their employment obligations and that the company complies with labor regulations. By keeping accurate records, managers can identify attendance patterns and determine whether corrective measures are necessary. This blog looks at the purpose behind employee attendance tracking, its impact on organizations, and how TimeWellScheduled’s scheduling software can automate the process. 

What is Employee Attendance Tracking?

Employee attendance tracking is the practice of recording and monitoring when employees are present at work or on leave. The process ensures that the company complies with labor regulations and provides managers with data to measure employee productivity. Employee attendance tracking also helps organizations to identify potential operational issues and take corrective action before they impact business performance. 

Why Is Employee Attendance Tracking Necessary?

Tracking attendance has several benefits for organizations, including:

  • Reducing absenteeism by encouraging employees to attend work regularly
  • Ensuring that payroll costs stay within budgeted amounts
  • Gaining insight into employee productivity levels
  • Meeting legal requirements regarding hours worked and minimum wages paid
  • Protecting against fraud and theft 

Taking Steps to Manage Employee Attendance

“…one employee being late or absent can negatively affect not only store operations, but also their coworkers by making them stay to make up for the lost labor.” (Harvard Business School) 

I) Create an Employee Attendance Policy

An employee attendance policy helps reduce absenteeism and provides clear expectations for employees. In addition, the policy defines justified leave vs. unjustified absence, including sick leave, holiday leave, unpaid leave, and other types employer approved leave. 

II) Consistently Enforce the Attendance Policy

Enforcing the employee attendance policy ensures fair treatment, maintains consistency and credibility within the organization, and helps prevent costly legal disputes. Consistent enforcement promotes a positive work culture, increases productivity, and reduces the potential for favoritism or unfair treatment. It also provides a clear framework for addressing attendance issues and holds employees accountable for their attendance responsibilities. 

III) Monitor and Document Employee Absences

Tracking employee attendance helps businesses understand overall productivity and identify patterns of absenteeism. By monitoring attendance, organizations can reduce the impact of decreased productivity, increased workload on other employees, project delays, and higher costs. It allows businesses to address absenteeism, implement strategies to minimize its effects and optimize efficiency. 

IV) Address Unscheduled & No Call, No Show Absences

Managers must address unscheduled or no-call-no-show absenteeism, which disrupts work and lowers productivity. Progressive discipline, using corrective measures to correct employee behavior, is necessary to address the issue. This involves thorough investigation, clear communication with the employee about the problem and its consequences, and ensuring all essential elements of progressive discipline are followed for fairness and effectiveness. 

Side Note: A progressive Discipline is a structured approach employers use to address employee performance or behavioral issues. It involves a series of increasingly stronger steps or measures taken when an employee fails to correct the problem after being given opportunities to do so. The goal is to modify behavior, improve performance, and provide a fair and consistent approach to addressing workplace issues. 

V) Understand the Reason for Attendance Issues

“…understanding the causes and effects (of lateness and absenteeism) should be a key priority of retailers.” – Caleb Kwon and Ananth Raman

Employers should take the time to understand the reasons behind employee lateness and absenteeism. This could involve conducting employee surveys or offering an anonymous feedback mechanism. By understanding the root causes, employers can develop strategies to address the issues and create a more positive work environment. 

VI) Reward & Recognize Good Attendance

“Organizations with sophisticated recognition programs are 12x more likely to have strong business outcomes.” Deloitte

When employees receive recognition for their consistent attendance, it showcases their goal achievement and reinforces their commitment to the organization. It also motivates them to continue their efforts and fosters a positive work culture that values reliability and dedication. It reduces stress and absenteeism, creating a more positive and cohesive work environment. 

Enhance Employee Attendance Tracking Using TimeWellScheduled

TimeWellScheduled’s cloud-based scheduling solution enhances employee attendance tracking by providing a comprehensive attendance management system. It offers automated attendance tracking, employee self-service, and detailed reporting features. This allows employers to access real-time attendance information about their workforce. Click here to learn more. 

“Lack of punctuality not only affects the “machine” of the workplace—it affects the people in it. It may lead to many resentments as coworkers who are on time compare themselves to late-comers. Being late throws you out of the loop, as you may miss important information. This causes a harmful division among employees.” – Johnson D. Elias.

Tracking employee attendance is essential to keeping a productive and profitable workplace. By implementing TimeWellScheduled’s cloud-based scheduling solution, your business can easily automate the documentation of attendance, leave, and overtime records for each employee. This improves visibility over employee performance while ensuring compliance with company policy and labor regulations. Automating the tracking process also saves time on administrative tasks as all data is recorded in one centralized platform providing management with quick and convenient access. In sum, employee attendance tracking ensures that employee obligations are fulfilled, scheduling issues are minimized, and legal compliance is respected – making automated attendance tracking an invaluable tool for your business.

About TimeWellScheduled

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TimeWellScheduled is a secure online time and attendance software 100% tailored to meet your employee scheduling needs! In addition, our cloud-based solution facilitates attendance tracking and payroll processing and enhances workforce management capabilities. Plus, our service is free for up to 10 employees.

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