Emily Clarke

Should You Track Your Employees' Time?

Straight to the point: the answer is "yes." Granted, a one-word response drastically oversimplifies the question at hand. Because the specific reasons you track the hours of a salaried team member are likely going to vary from the reasons you track an hourly employee's time. But monitoring your employee's time, whether hourly or salaried, is essential if you want to promote fairness across expectations and compensation. So, let's explore why this is the case.

When it comes to salary employees, using time tracking software might seem unnecessary, but it pays dividends to boost accountability. Anyone who's been on salary knows how tempting it can be to take extended lunch breaks or run errands when you're supposed to be working. And on the other hand, anyone who's been on salary also knows the pains of clocking 80+ hour work weeks when deadlines are closing in. A time tracking software is useful, then, for keeping your team members accountable while at work, and they keep you, the business owner, from burdening them with unrealistic expectations.

When it comes to hourly employees, there's an inherent need for time tracking software. However, both hourly and salaried employees are entitled to overtime pay if they meet specific thresholds set by the Department of Labor (DOL). By law, the business owner must comply with these policies, or else their business could face hefty fines and even forfeiture. Time tracking applications not only streamline the compliance process, but they also translate the always-changing legal jargon into plain English that actually makes sense.

Lastly, having an accurate record of hours worked helps both the owner and the employee accurately track paid time off (PTO). Everyone loves PTO; it's one of the reasons your team works so hard when they're on the clock, to begin with. PTO reduces burnout by providing your employee's with a way to catch a refreshing break without breaking the bank. Time tracking software is useful; therefore, because it ensures that your employees are getting the PTO they're entitled to without exceeding the agreed-upon amount.

Keeping an accurate log of worked hours doesn't have to be a chore if you elect to automate it with software. And doing so stands to benefit everyone by boosting morale and promoting fairness across expectations and compensation.

Author Resource:-

Emily Clarke writes about employee management, benefits and payroll service. You can find her thoughts at workers management blog. For more information on employee benefits management software, visit the website.