Dispelling the Myths of Biometric Time Clocks

Biometric time clocks are heralded by Human Resource departments for providing positive employee identification in tracking payroll hours and obliterating buddy punching time theft. Employees punch In and Out of work using a unique physical attribute, such as a fingerprint, eliminating the need for pin numbers, badges or swipe cards. Despite the indisputable benefits, skepticism still surrounds these “techy” time clocks. Much of biometric’s bad wrap begins with misinformation and a general lack of knowledge. Here’s a list of common myths, counterbalanced with the facts and truths concerning biometric time clocks.

MYTH #1: Biometric time clocks store fingerprints

This is the most popular myth most people associate with biometric time and attendance, but the truth is, biometric time clocks do not actually store fingerprints. Quite to the contrary, the device scans an image of an employee finger and saves an encrypted biometric key or mathematical representation. A fingerprint image is not saved, only a series of numbers (a binary code) is used for authentication. The resulting algorithm cannot be reconverted to an image, therefore fingerprint scans may not be duplicated.

2. Buddy Punching

Buddy punching is when an employee asks a co-worker to punch the time clock for them if they are late or absent from work. The problem is worse for employers that track time on paper time sheets. Biometric time clocks quickly scan
employee fingertips to positively identify and then register arrival times, breaks, lunches, overtime and departure times.

Fingertip scans are stored and assigned to each employee using time and attendance software. Each unique finger scan provides indisputable identification and prevents “buddy punching” time theft.

3. Extended Breaks, Late Arrivals and Early Departures

Break abuse, late arrivals and early departures are the most common form of time theft, costing employers thousands of dollars each year. When an employee arrives late, takes longer or more frequent breaks, takes extended lunch breaks, or leaves early, it all adds up to a bunch of money. According to the American Payroll Association, the average employee “steals” 4 hours and 5 minutes every week, or 6 weeks annually. For a worker making $10 an hour, that equates to $2,340 a year of lost time and company money! Using a time clock or automated time clock system can help watchdog check-in/check-out times with greater a accuracy, and eliminate costly overpayments.

Implementing a time and attendance system also lets employees know that they are being monitored and curbs them from taking long breaks and leaving early. Time clocks provide an official record of the hours an employee works to calculate the actual pay owed to an employee.

4. Down Time

Employees may be tempted by a number of distractions during the workday, which may take them away from their work and lower productivity. These include:

• Excessive socializing
• Personal phone calls
• Stepping out of the office
• Sleeping on the job (yes, you read right! 29% of workers report falling asleep on the job, based on a National Sleep Foundation survey) [i]

[i] http://sleepfoundation.org/media-center/press-release/longer-work-days-leave-americans-nodding-the-job

5. The Internet Trap

The internet can be a real employee time sucker, cutting into work hours and slowing productivity. Social media is a growing concern for time theft. According to a study by Nucleus Research, productivity plummets by 1.5% when staff can access Facebook in the workplace. 61% of employees surveyed, use the site at work for 15 minutes per day. Here’s how some employees are spending their time:

• Checking personal email
• Shopping online
• Gaming online
• Surfing social media

6. Ghost Employees

The most blatant form of time theft are ghost employees. This type occurs when an employee punches in, leaves the workplace without performing any work, then returns to work at the end of the day to punch out. Another form of ghost employees occurs when when management creates fictitious employees, puts them on the payroll, logs them into work each day, then embezzles the fake employees’ paycheck.

7. On the Move

Mobile workforces have their own set of challenges, as it may be difficult to pinpoint if the employee is where they are supposed to be. Drivers, landscapers, and home health aides, for example, may make personal stops at the store, or go home to let the dog out, or may not even show up for work at all. Without checks and balances, these types of employees can disappear off the radar.