As a construction manager, you might be undertaking projects that require contractors or subcontractors who work by the hour, alongside full-time employees.
And with the rise of hybrid work in construction, there are more opportunities for employees to work remotely, which can make it difficult to track employee hours.
In such cases, it becomes important to accurately track employee hours in order to:
1. Keep track of labor costs
2. Compare the cost of using full-time employees vs contractors/subcontractors
3. Understand which tasks are taking more time than others, and optimize the process accordingly
4. Meet deadlines
5. Stay on budget
And all these tasks cannot be swiftly done without construction payroll automation software. Such software can help you keep track of employee hours and make it easier for you to calculate monthly wages.
Now, there are multiple ways of tracking employee hours, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. In this article, we will explore the 5 best ways to track employee hours.
If you want to track all your workers in a specific project, it’s best to come up with a comprehensive plan.
Why?
Different workers have different roles, and each role might require a different set of tools or skills. In some cases, certain workers might only be needed for specific tasks (e.g. electricians), while others might be needed throughout the project (e.g. general laborers).
When planning to track and manage remote workers, for instance, regular tracking methods might not work as well.
On the other hand, if you’re only interested in tracking a specific group of workers (e.g. office staff), then you can focus on methods that are more suitable for that particular group.
In the end, tracking employee time requires knowing your workforce, what they do, and how to best track their hours.
Move on to the next section and discover the best ways to track employee hours, depending on your needs.
What’s the best way to track employee hours?
As mentioned before, it depends on your needs and scope of work.
To track time accurately, you need to jot down the different types of workers that comprise your workforce and what they do. Doing this will help you understand how to better track employee hours.
For example, if you have a construction project with a lot of workers doing different tasks, you might need to track their hours using GPS.
On the other hand, if you’re managing a small office with only a handful of employees, employee time tracking using a simple time clock might suffice.
So without further ado, Here are 5 of the best ways to track employee hours:
GPS tracking is a great way to track the hours of outdoor workers, such as construction workers, landscapers, and drivers.
There are many GPS tracking devices available on the market, such as a simple key fob, which is a small electronic device that can be used to unlock a door, start a car, or perform other tasks.
Other sophisticated wearable devices, such as a smartwatch, can also be used to track employee time.
GPS tracking devices work by sending the location of the device (and, by extension, the user) to a central server. The data can then be accessed via a web-based interface or a mobile app.
Some GPS tracking apps also come with features such as geofencing and real-time tracking, which can be useful for construction managers.
Geofencing allows you to set up virtual boundaries around a job site, and you will be notified if a worker enters or leaves the boundary. This can be used to track employees who are working off-site, as well as to monitor safety hazards.
The apps are time tracking apps that come with many features which can be useful for construction managers.
For instance, apps such as MobiClocks Kiosk App can be used to track employee productivity ie hours worked, employee breaks, punches, and accurately cost code job sites.
Cost coding is essential since it covers how many hours were spent on a job and the specific tasks that were completed.
This information is then used to generate invoices and reports, which can be helpful for billing and auditing purposes. Your employees’ pay period can also be set according to their work hours.
Kiosk apps are also beneficial since they can be used offline. This means that even if there is no internet connection, the app will still be able to track employee hours by storing offline punches. The data will then be synced to the server once the device is connected to the internet.
Kiosk apps can also be used to manage shift changes, track employee time off, as well as to monitor safety hazards.
What’s good about this app?
You don’t require any additional hardware for installation, all you need is the app and a device with an internet connection.
These types of time tracking software are ideal for office-based employees, or for tracking employee time in a specific location.
A desktop time clock is a physical device that employees use to clock in and out. The data is then stored on a central server.
One advantage of using a desktop time clock is that it can be used offline, which means that you don’t need an internet connection to track employee hours.
Another advantage is that desktop time clocks are very accurate, as they use GPS to track employee hours.
A biometric time clock uses the unique physical characteristics of an individual, such as their fingerprint, to identify them.
Biometric time clocks are convenient, as they can be used to clock in and out of a job site.
One disadvantage of biometric time clocks is that they are more expensive than other types of time clocks.
Also, fingerprints can be stolen, which means that biometric time clocks are not completely secure. So, if you have many workers on a job site, it might be better to use another type of time clock.
A smartwatch can also be used to track employee hours. Smartwatches are convenient as they can be worn at all times, and they usually come with GPS tracking capabilities.
This means that you can track employee hours very accurately. Additionally, smartwatches can be used to track other things such as job site safety hazards and employee breaks.
But beware, for these watches can be lost or stolen.
Unlike some kiosk apps that integrate facial recognition, these watches can also be used by several workers, and there can be no way of knowing who was wearing the watch when a certain task was completed.
There are many different types of time tracking systems available, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Before you decide which system to use, think about your specific needs and requirements. Consider the type of work that your employees do and the number of employees that you have.
You should also think about the accuracy of the system and whether you need it to be used offline. Once you have considered all of these factors, you will be able to choose the best time tracking system for your business.
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