Millions of dollars are lost every year because of errors on the payroll. Some are honest mistakes brought on by carelessness; others are deliberate dishonesty from employees looking to make an extra buck. Whether you suspect one or the other, here are just five tips when shopping for a new time clock.
1: Decide Between Manual and Electronic
Manual timekeeping is done with cards, codes, and lanyards. It is much more affordable than its digital cousin is, but fraudulent employees can also abuse it. A biometric system that operates through fingerprinting will be almost impossible to fool, but it is equally impossible to purchase when you are on a tight budget. Choose carefully before going forward in your time clock search.
2: Think About Size
If you’re running a small or family-owned business, any time clock on the market will suit your needs. If you own a large company, however, you will need something that can handle the daily tracking and recording of hundreds of employees. You do not want to wear out any gears or overload any technical systems with activity levels that it cannot handle.
3: Find Something That Fixes Previous Flaws
Did your old time clock have a problem with overprinting? Choose a new model that comes with automatic alignment. Are you losing big bucks through buddy punching? Consider making the switch to fingerprinting software. The whole point of upgrading your time clock is to buy something better than your last one.
4: Consider Web Capabilities
Newer time clock models plug right into the web for the remote monitoring of payroll data. You will enjoy access to schedules and recorded break times even if you are out of the office. A time clock online can also automate many actions for you, saving time, money and labor that can be better utilized elsewhere.
5: Don’t Forget the Little Things
When choosing a time clock, it’s easy to get distracted by economical print operations and forget about, say, how many punch cards it can hold. How many slots are there? Are the buttons large enough for your older employees? If it has a touchscreen, is it waterproof and smudge-resistant? Thinking about the little details in the present can you big headaches in the future.
These are just five things to keep in mind when choosing a new time clock for your business. Whether you are looking for a simple slide-and-punch or a high-tech biometric system, it is important that you find a model you can trust. The payroll is no place for doubts.
