Finding the Right Time & Attendance Solution for Remote + Hybrid Workers

Some CEOs worry that remote workers only “pretend to work.” While this certainly isn’t true, companies do need accurate data about employees’ work hours and productivity. Finding the right remote time and attendance technology solution is important.

In today’s world, HR must be able to adapt all processes and technology for remote and hybrid work. This includes time and attendance management, such as:

• Daily hours and overtime
• PTO and other forms of leave
• Tardiness and absenteeism
• Web-based time clocks
• Geo-fencing

The right remote time and attendance software makes a big difference with managing a remote or hybrid workforce. Accurate data helps the company improve efficiency, but it also ensures that employees are fairly compensated. Make the most of your remote workers while empowering them to become even more independent.

Discover why HR technology is an absolute necessity for tracking time and attendance in a virtual work world. 

Greater accuracy

Choose attendance software with the right features like payroll integration and digital timesheets to ensure greater accuracy. Use the web-based timekeeping portals and biometric hardware that make sense for your workforce, and your software should be able to handle different types of input.

READ: 12 Essential Time and Attendance Software Features

Remote timekeeping data should be remotely accessible and integrated with relevant systems, so that employees can check their PTO and supervisors can receive alerts about overtime. Missed punch alerts help both employees and managers resolve issues with minimal fuss.

Better employee access

Motivate and empower employees with more accessible timekeeping software. Employee portals can allow self-service for employees to check PTO as it accrues. Let workers see upcoming schedules earlier online, and they can arrange to swap shifts and cover absences.

Let employees submit time off requests through the same portal, and managers can approve requests or edit schedules more conveniently. Use accurate attendance data for a more equitable leave management policy. 

Easier scheduling

Conventional office schedules were pretty simple in the past. That’s why we have familiar terms like “office hours.” Remote and hybrid work gets more complicated, but flexibility gives a big boost to productivity.

Encourage windowed work for remote workers to manage their home and family needs without borrowing from company time. With everyone working slightly different hours, you need a more customizable online schedule to organize meetings and collaboration.

Improved flexibility

Remote and hybrid workforces still need some accountability. Some staff might perform work at their home office and others might need to visit specific locations. Benefits of web-based time clocks include mobile accessibility and improved security.

Make sure that workers are clocking in and out from appropriate locations with geo-fencing software. Use RFID signals and cell phone GPS location data to confirm that employees are at their worksites.

Greater accountability

Even without a commute, some employees will still arrive late. Therefore, you need a clear and consistent policy for tardiness. A remote or hybrid workforce needs similar structure, even if available hours vary widely between individual employees.

When decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, managers are more likely to be accused of showing favoritism. Use HR software to manage tardiness and absenteeism more efficiently across your hybrid or remote workforce. Remote workers who fail to clock-in may have additional conflicts that need to be resolved.

Increased productivity

Many remote workers find that they’re more productive at home, but they feel pressured to jump through extra hoops to “prove” they’re working. Remote workers may feel the need to respond quickly to emails at odd hours, attend extra zoom meetings, and make unnecessary comments just to be visibly engaged with the company. Eventually, the smaller performative tasks of “virtual presenteeism” distract from the worker’s actual job.

Remote time and attendance software makes it easy to track real work hours, even when those hours aren’t the conventional 9 to 5. You also need to update your employee handbook with clear expectations for remote workers. Make it clear how quickly remote workers are expected to reply to midnight emails and help them set boundaries to improve productivity. Use a variety of productivity metrics for employee reviews, not just reported hours.

Cost control

Every company has time-intensive projects and inefficient procedures. The latest time and attendance software allows you to track hours on major projects and categories of work. Manage labor costs by identifying opportunities to improve efficiency.

For a variety of reasons, some employees end up working significantly more hours. Whether employees are “riding the clock” or covering for sick coworkers, supervisors need alerts when scheduled hours run into overtime. Monitor weekly hours in real time and keep overtime from running over-budget with remote time and attendance tracking.

Better communication

If you haven’t already done so, develop a long term remote plan for your company. Improvising was okay for short term adaptation, but you need clear policies and expectations. An informal dynamic leads to miscommunication and frustration for everyone.

Make it clear what’s expected of remote workers and find ways to support their mental health by preventing loneliness and burnout. Your remote staff will be happier when they understand exactly what’s expected. Supervisors will have an easier time addressing problems with clear guidelines and consequences in writing.

Learn more about Netchex’s Remote Time and Attendance solution:

Learn more about our remote Time and Attendance software—perfect for in-office, remote, and hybrid workers. Our Time and Attendance solution is fully integrated with our entire HR technology suite.

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