Time recording – “time and attendance” at the work is used in some companies both to organise and to account for working hours. The recording of working hours offers several possibilities: Pure absence control, recording on the network or via the app, as well as activity- and project-related time recording.
Often timesheets are still used in smaller companies to record the respective working hours. However, this is associated with a high level of effort, and it also requires a high level of manual effort on the part of the HR department. Consequently, more and more companies are switching to electronic time recording.
Advantages of electronic time recording
A still common form of keeping track of the times and attendances of employees in the company is the classic time clock. It enables the monitoring of employee attendance and can also determine whether the respective target working hours are being adhered to. Such a time clock requires relatively little manual effort on the part of the HR department.
Furthermore, digital time recording helps to avoid paperwork and also creates transparency – both for the company itself and for its employees. This makes it easier for the company to evaluate unpunctuality and absenteeism and, if necessary, to use this information in discussions with the employee.
Another advantage of the time clock is that employees have a good overview of their overtime at the same time. Accordingly, electronic time recording makes it easy to manage overtime and flexitime accounts as well as absences such as sickness and holidays.
Disadvantages of electronic time recording
Electronic time recording offers some advantages, but unfortunately, there are also disadvantages. For example, the introduction of electronic time recording can lead to tensions between employees and supervisors in the company.
The introduction of time recording can give employees the feeling that they are being monitored by their superiors – they see the new introduction as evidence of a high level of mistrust on the part of management.
Furthermore, some employees may be inclined to check all timesheets for absolute accuracy – after all, the employee does not want to miss an extra minute. If working time is managed in confidence in the company and this has not led to any difficulties so far, it is particularly important in this case to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of electronic time recording carefully.
Time recording in terms of labour law
It is also important to consider time recording in its labour law aspects. For example, employees who deliberately record their attendance and absence times incorrectly can be dismissed – without notice.
Nor is a prior warning for the breach of the duty of care and loyalty necessary in such a case: The dismissal of the employee can take place immediately and without observing any time limits.
Therefore, it should also be noted that the introduction of electronic working time recording must be discussed with the entire workforce. Here, for example, the advantages of flexitime or an overtime account can also be explained.
Time recording is introduced with the purpose of controlling and managing attendance and absence times. Thus, there is also the possibility of a comprehensive administration of flexitime accounts.
If project- or task-related time recording is added, there is even the possibility of a comprehensive evaluation of all activities of all employees.
However, it is important not to forego the comprehensive information of employees when introducing such a system. Otherwise, there is a risk that time recording will be perceived as a control instrument – consequently this can even lead to complete rejection on the part of the employees.