First published on Friday, May 14, 2021
Last updated on Tuesday, August 27, 2024
The working hours of your staff quite literally keep your business ‘ticking over’. If your staff are consistently early or late, it can have a negative impact on the rest of the day, affecting professionalism, causing morale problems, and limiting the amount of work completed.
UK law requires employers to keep records on working time for employees who opt out of the 48-hour working time directive. While it’s fairly easy to keep track of the daily routine with a few employees working from one location, it becomes more complicated with a less routine or remote work environment.
That’s where clocking in apps come in. While you may want to read about what a clocking in system is, or the types of clock in systems your business can use, this guide will explain the benefits of using a clocking in app for your organisation.
So, what are the benefits of clock in apps for work ?
Tracking employee hours with a clocking in app can really help your business. It gives both you and your employees a defined start and end to the day, adding a clear level of professionalism to your work environment. Many staff members do better with this kind of structure, boosting productivity and stability.
But there’s many more benefits than that.
Accurate attendance information
Clock in systems for employees help you track when your staff are working. This information is important for identifying trends that might be costing you, such as:
Lateness
Sick days
Poor time keeping on lunch breaks
This data can highlight company-wide issues or individual timekeeping problems.
Save time and increase your payroll accuracy
Attendance data helps with more than just keeping an eye on lateness. Using time clock records for payroll prevents mistakes and makes sure your staff are paid correctly each payday. This is particularly useful for shift workers and those on zero-hour contracts. A digital clocking in system syncs attendance records with your payroll software, making the process even easier.
Clock-in apps tend to be even better, as they require less time to set up for both the employer and employee.
Simplify management of flexible working arrangements
Over 4.4 million employees in the UK have contracts allowing flexible working hours according to Statista reports. As it becomes harder to not only keep track of the unique hours of each employee, but their preferred working locations as well; clock-in systems offer a simplified solution which solves both issues.
Apps are a preferable solution, as they have no restrictions as to when and where they are used, further facilitating hybrid and remote models of working.
What clocking in app features will benefit your UK business?
While there are a variety of clocking in systems available, the best choice for most businesses is using a clock in app for their employees.
An app offers all the benefits of a standard time clock system, but with added enhancements and extra perks.
Here are some key features of using an app:
Real-time monitoring and geolocation tracking
The best clocking in apps will offer real-time monitoring, allowing employers to see who is clocked in at any given moment. This feature is particularly useful for managing remote teams.
Additionally, some apps provide geolocation tracking, verifying employee locations when they clock in or out, which is essential information for businesses with mobile or field-based staff.
Apps with geofence features balance privacy concerns with usability by only tracking employees in a radius of the expected work premises for the day. This is great for uptake, as it respects the autonomy and privacy of your team.
Integration with payroll systems
Some advanced clocking-in apps can easily connect with payroll systems, making the whole process smoother and less hassle. This connection is crucial because it ensures all the hours worked are accurately recorded in payroll, reducing mistakes and making sure everyone gets paid on time.
For software which offers smooth integration between your HR and payroll systems, discover BrightHR Payroll.
Compliance with employment laws
Using a clocking in app helps businesses comply with employment laws and regulations by accurately recording work hours, helping you avoid legal issues and ensuring fair treatment of your employees. Better compliance, less legwork!
Cost-effective solution
Using clocking-in apps can cut costs when compared with traditional timekeeping methods, which often come with errors from manual recording. Regular clock-in systems often need pricey hardware, but apps can work on almost any smartphone.
This cost-effectiveness makes it an attractive option for small business owners, (SMEs). It also reduces manual input from the employee, so they aren’t fiddling around with systems too much on their own time.
Improve Employee Accountability
Clocking in apps can improve employee accountability by providing transparent records of work hours. This transparency helps in building trust and ensuring that employees are adhering to their schedules. Apps also put ownership of hours in the hands of the employee, which can be a positive for everyone.
Embrace efficient attendance management with BrightHR
Keeping track of employees’ working hours has never been an easy task, and the rise in hybrid and flexible working models has made it even more complicated. Though keeping accurate attendance figures is essential not only for compliance, but for keeping productivity high and making sure your payroll runs like clockwork.
Using a clock-in app like Blip can help ensure your attendance records are precise—whether your team are working remotely or on-site. Blip by BrightHR is one of the best clocking in apps for small business owners, as it makes it easy for employees to log their hours from anywhere, anytime, using just their phone.
It’s loaded with features that address the challenges faced by both small business owners and their teams, making it the ultimate clocking-in app.
Plus, did we mention that Blip is also available on our web-based platform? So, if an employee’s phone dies, they can still clock in and out on their computer. No excuses, unless their computer decides to take a nap too!
Ready to streamline your attendance management? Book a demo today. Or call 0800 470 2432 to speak to one of our experts to learn more.
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