Time Cards

Time and Attendance Solutions – an Analysis

As a result of the Working Time Directive and the increasing demand for flexible working, employers need to be able to keep track on their employees’ hours of work. Whilst some Time and Attendance solutions providers market “high-end” biometric PC-based Time and Attendance solutions which enable linking of time and attendance information with HR and Payroll, smaller businesses (those with less than 50 people) don’t need such expensive systems to comply with their obligations.

First of all, it is obvious that standard time recorders do not help security, but then “high-end” biometric time and attendance products are not the ideal solution either. Biometrics may stop “buddy-punching” but biometric readers only confirm when one particular person was at one certain location and then for only the length of time it takes for the identification or verification to take place – a matter of a second or two at most – it does not tell management what that employee did or where they went before or after that time. Additionally employees can also disrupt the day-to-day running of a biometric-based  Time And Attendance system by distorting how they place their hand or finger compared to the position it was in when they were enrolled onto the biometric reader, creating “missed clockings”. Get several people doing this, particularly if they are “trusted” employees, and the whole integrity of the system can be thrown into serious doubt, with many man hours spent trying to solve the problem.

Furthermore, PC-based time and attendance systems, in themselves, cannot stop absenteeism. It is true that they make reporting absenteeism easier and patterns more visible, but those employees who “pull sickies” do not care whether they are using time sheets, time cards, swipe cards or have to place their hand in a biometric reader. Effective management is the only answer.

There are thousands of small companies using basic (and calculating) card-based time recorders, who should not be condemned out of hand as being “pockets of resistance” to “high-end” biometric Time and Attendance Solutions. It is horses for courses. What would be the actual benefit of a web-enabled, self-service, biometric  Time Attendance Systems , costing several thousand pounds to a Small Business employing eight hourly-paid people, especially when they outsource their actual payroll to their accountants?

Additionally, “fiendishly complicated shifts” can sometimes be the downfall of PC-based time and attendance systems. There are instances where systems are thrown out and replaced with traditional card-based time and attendance recorders because some of the more so-called advanced systems cannot cope with historical precedents – and, as with all computer-based systems the maxims of Garbage In, Garbage Out and Keep It Simple, Stupid apply.

In summary, I think it would be fair to say that there are places in the marketplace for all types of time and attendance product – basic time recorders, calculating card-based time recorders and time and attendance systems using other technologies – swipe card, proximity and biometric. It is up to each organisation to find the product which suits its needs and requirements the best.

About the Author

This article was written by Steven Broadbent, the Director of Cristel Graphics Ltd- a company that specialises in Time and Attendance, and Time Recorders.
For more information visit www.cristelgraphics.co.uk

Time Warp – Card Throwing Slowmotion

Rada Cutlery Tomato Slicer Knife, Made in USA Now you can cut perfect tomato slices every time. The blade of the Rada Tomato Slicer is specially manufactured with dual serrations to make sure every cut is straight and even. And it works for left-handers too! Rada cutlery is made of surgical quality, high carbon stainless steel. Hollow-ground blades ensure a precision concave surface for maximum edge retention and sharpness. The black stainles…

Ultrak Jumbo Countdown Timer $16.00 The Ultrak T-2 features a huge electronic 1 1/4″ digital digit display countdown timer that can be set from one second to 100 minutes. The timer also has one of the loudest alarms when time is up. Many customers enjoys this timer built in memory reset function. There is also a magnetic back-clip and easel stand for easy to read table top to bottom display. The timer is 3″ in height and uses an…

Jaccard 45 Knife Meat Tenderizer $20.00 The Jaccard Simply Better Meat Tenderizer gives you delicious, professional chef – quality meat! SAVE BIG! Since 1962, Jaccard Meat Tenderizers have been the secret of professional chefs all over the world. Now you too can cook your beef, chicken, pork, veal, turkey and wild game more evenly and up to 40% quicker! This 45-blade Tenderizer also enhances the effects of your marinades. Plus, the remo…

The Beatles Stereo Box Set $144.00 BEATLES THE STEREO BOXSET WITH DOCS (16CD+1DVD)…

Looney Tunes: Golden Collection, Vol. 1 $41.94 What’s up, Doc? Well, how about a four-disc boxed set packed with 56 of the funniest cartoons in Warner Bros. history? Get ready to laugh yourself silly with salutes to Bugs Bunny (“Baseball Bugs,” “Long-Haired Hare,” “Wabbit Twouble,” “The Rabbit of Seville,” and more); Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (“Duck Amuck,” “Dough for the Do-Do,” “Scaredy Cat,” “Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2th Century,” and more);…

Best of Elmo’s World DVD Collection $20.51 Three-disc set includes “Head to Toe with Elmo,” “Flowers, Bananas & More!,” and “Birthdays, Games & More!”…

The Muppets (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy + Soundtrack Download Card) $17.99 With the famed puppet troupe’s heyday behind them, it’s up to young Muppet Walter, his human brother Gary (Jason Segel, who also co-wrote), and Gary’s girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to bring Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and the rest of the gang back together in order to put on a show and save the Muppet Theater from a greedy oil baron (Chris Cooper). Rashida Jones also stars in this fun-…

Star Trek: Original Motion Picture Collection (Star Trek I, II, III, IV, V, VI + The Captain’s Summit Bonus Disc) [Blu-ray] $52.95 Seven-disc set includes “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,” “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,” “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier,” “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country,” and a disc full of extras….

Cracking Contraptions, Part 1 $1.99 …

The Secret World of Arrietty (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) $22.99 The Secret World of Arrietty is a remake of the magical fairy tale The Borrowers, as seen through the keen, imaginative eye of Japanese writer Hayao Miyazaki. The American version of this delicately, richly animated film is that rarest of children’s movies–one that is a deeply engaging experience for adults as well. The visuals and graphics are gasp-inducing, yet never over the top or too showy. …