Time management is a critical priority for businesses today. It is both a legal obligation and a source of numerous benefits, and therefore, it must be implemented carefully. Here, you'll find an explanation of what it entails, its advantages for employers, and how to implement it, including the use of time and attendance software.
Time management is primarily a legal obligation for all employers. Every business manager must track and record the working hours and activities of their staff. These records are required for all employees in a company, regardless of their employment contract and work schedule (individual or collective schedules, etc.). Only actual working hours are to be recorded; break times are not included. Leaves, absences due to illness, and other absences are also part of time tracking.
Various time management tools can be used for company employees. However, there are rules to follow:
Employers who do not fulfill their obligations regarding time management risk penalties established by labor laws.
Time management is a legal requirement in all large companies and SMEs. But above all, it offers numerous advantages, both for management and employees.
With tracked working hours, a defined schedule, and established priorities, each employee knows what to do during their day, which project to advance, and the time allocated for it. Employees do not handle multiple tasks at once and do not waste time on organizational details, thus increasing efficiency. Working in good conditions thanks to well-managed working time allows each team member to be more productive.
Using time management tools also allows time for urgent tasks. When daily activities are well managed, employees have time to complete their tasks correctly. Unforeseen tasks then simply require a bit more urgency or a few extra hours, but they do not disrupt the entire organization. This is a real advantage for all company employees.
When a time management strategy is implemented, everyone is more relaxed, from production teams to managers and the human resources department. For managers, having an established schedule, knowing the progress of a task over time, and knowing who has time to handle a particular file at a specific moment is a real asset. For employees, good organization allows them to meet their objectives within the allotted time. Employees go home on time and having completed their tasks. They can then enjoy their free time and personal activities, and return to work refreshed and ready to give their best. Moreover, they know that their break times and leave rights are respected. Effective time tracking allows everyone to work serenely and be less stressed, which is essential today.
To monitor the actual working time of each employee while respecting the company's obligations and staff rights, various solutions exist.
Paper formats or spreadsheets like Excel were until recently good systems for tracking working time. However, the amount of data to handle and retain is significant, and the risk of error with such tools is too high.
Time clocks may seem like an effective method for monitoring working time in a company. However, this tool remains difficult to combine with recent software and is increasingly less used. Biometric devices, on the other hand, are one of the most effective tools for monitoring employee activities. Secure and almost infallible, they remain very costly.
For effective time tracking, time and attendance software seems ideal. It allows data to be entered automatically and can be used from anywhere by all authorized persons. With all the features they offer, they constitute a comprehensive solution for managing working time. They perfectly meet the needs of employees and the obligations of employers.
