Time tracking
The time clock
Associations with the factory from Modern Times come to mind when thinking about the time clock. Although the punch card is replaced with a pass or badge, the principle remains the same: each staff member starting work signs in, and those who have finished work sign out. Nowadays, instead of a clock there’s a terminal where you can find your holiday entitlement, register visits to the doctor or report as working offsite.
Under water
- A computer program runs behind the terminal screen. Here are some examples of what an application like that can do:
- Register each action and interpret it as signing in or out;
- Round up all times by five or fifteen minutes – or not at all;
- Take into account standard break times that do not require signing in or out;
- Apply CBA regulations relating to overtime and allowances;
- Set out working times for management approval;
- Process sick and holiday days, and any overtime hours;
- Provide overviews for personnel and management.
Logging in
Instead of signing in or out at a terminal, the employee can usually also log in through the computer or a (mobile) website and correct hours worked, provide an explanation in exceptional circumstances, download timesheets and see their current holiday entitlement.
A well-implemented time tracking system provides managers with a wealth of information about work times, absenteeism and accruals.
Integration
The desire to integrate schedule and time tracking is logical. You want to know if the hours worked correspond with the schedule. If they do not match, you want to know why. Moreover, in view of the fact that overtime for event organisers is often defined as work outside of the schedule, you will need the combination of scheduled hours and hours worked in order to calculate overtime.
Integration into a single system, or a link between the schedule and time tracking, is most convenient for event organisers.