How to effectively track employee time

If the prospect of inaccurate timekeeping, accidental time theft, and headache-inducing payroll processing isn't enough to make you reconsider manual time-tracking methods, then what about the likelihood of underpaid employees?

A short paycheck is pretty easy to settle: just edit your timesheets and submit a new check or direct deposit. But a series of insufficient paychecks could lead to the loss of a valuable staff member or costly legal issues.

This is what you risk when you stick to conventional, error-prone time tracking methods. But don't stress. We'll talk about how you can effectively track employee time and chat:

How to Choose the Right Time Tracking Method How easy it is to track time with Homebase The benefits of time tracking software Lead a better team with smarter planning.

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Choosing the Best Method for Tracking Employee Hours

Many business owners may find clocking apps and software useful for streamlining their time management processes, while others prefer manual approaches for their simplicity. Let's look at a few different methods so you can decide which one will best serve your small business.

Web based time tracking software

Manual systems like spreadsheets, pens, and paper seem simple, but they can easily lead to errors, buddy clockings, and inaccurate paychecks. Web-based time tracking software is designed to eliminate these issues in several ways:

Employees can clock in and out from a computer with a secure PIN, which prevents them from logging in for their teammates. Once someone clocks in, the time tracking system instantly records their hours on their timecards, helping you avoid double entry errors. The system will notify you of timesheet discrepancies such as missing breaks or unusually long or short shifts before processing employee checks. Once you have reviewed the timesheets, you can export the data to third party software. Or, if you're using Homebase, you can run payroll directly from the timesheet dashboard. Time Tracking Mobile Apps

If you run a business like a restaurant, cafe, or shop, you likely have a lot of extra foot traffic at certain times of the day. This means that employees won't always have a lot of time to get to the nearest clock when they arrive during peak hours, which makes mobile time tracking apps particularly useful.

Mobile clock apps typically work with a web-based platform to turn any team member's mobile device into a clock in a kiosk. Employees simply need to enter a unique PIN to start and end their shifts directly from their phone. And apps like Homebase also have GPS and geofencing capabilities that prevent staff from clocking in before arriving at work.

Source: https://joinhomebase.com/time-clock/ Caption: Mobile clocking apps like Homebase make clocking in easier for those arriving at work during rush hour.

Time tracking mobile apps are also effective because they reduce absences by sending reminders to team members when their shift is about to start. Plus, they make it easier for staff to coordinate shift swaps and submit time-tracking requests, saving managers time and paperwork.

Biometric systems

Biometric clocks use physical characteristics such as fingerprints, palm identification, iris scans or facial recognition...