What employee time clocks can track and manage

Published on
November 27, 2023
What employee time clocks can track and manage

Time clocks in companies are no longer just tools to monitor employee attendance. Modern digital time clocks, often combined with time tracking apps, have become comprehensive workforce management tools. They record working hours, track absences, and manage leave balances while ensuring compliance with labor laws.

How digital time clocks work

A digital time clock system allows employees to record their working hours via a mobile app or tablet terminal. Employees simply log in using a personal PIN code, and their working times are saved directly to the system.

With just a few clicks, employees can indicate if they are:

  • On-site at the workplace
  • On a business trip
  • On their lunch break
  • Working remotely
  • On leave
  • On sick leave

This streamlined process simplifies both time tracking and absence management.

More than just attendance tracking

Modern time clocks go far beyond simple attendance records. They also track:

  • Actual hours worked, including overtime
  • Leave days and RTT (reduction in working time) balances
  • Compensatory rest days for overtime
  • Unpaid absences and special leave
  • Training hours
  • Union representative hours (if applicable)

This comprehensive data collection ensures the accuracy of payroll and gives HR an overview of workforce availability.

Legal obligation to track working hours

French labor law requires companies to track and archive working hours for all employees. This data must be available for inspection by URSSAF and the labor inspectorate. Employees must also be able to access their personal working time records at any time.

The type of time clock is not regulated, meaning employers can choose between manual logs, physical time clocks, or digital solutions like apps or software. However, the chosen system must comply with GDPR and CNIL regulations, ensuring data protection and transparency.

Protecting employee rights

To comply with GDPR, employers must ensure employees are:

  • Informed of the data collected
  • Able to access and correct their data if necessary
  • Aware of who has access to the collected data

Employees must be informed before a time clock system is installed, and staff representatives must be consulted for approval. This ensures transparency and helps foster trust between management and employees.

Benefits for HR and payroll

For HR departments, digital time clocks offer:

  • Automatic calculation of working hours and overtime
  • Real-time absence tracking
  • Instant updates to leave balances
  • Direct data transfer to payroll software

This reduces errors, speeds up payroll processing, and ensures compliance with labor laws.

Improved workforce management

In addition to payroll and compliance, time clock data helps optimize workforce planning. By tracking patterns in absences, overtime, and workload, managers can:

  • Identify understaffing or overstaffing trends
  • Adjust shift planning accordingly
  • Improve employee scheduling to align with operational needs

Simplified absence management

Employees can use the time tracking app to:

  • Submit leave requests
  • Report illnesses and upload medical certificates
  • Apply for RTT or compensatory rest days

This allows HR to approve or reject requests in real time, ensuring continuity of service and fair workload distribution.

From installation to daily use

Modern time clocks are quick to install. Companies no longer need to invest in physical terminals at every entrance. Instead, employees can clock in directly via their smartphones or on a shared tablet in the workplace.

Once the time tracking app is installed, employees receive training on how to use it, ensuring smooth adoption. The HR team manages the system via a central administration dashboard, personalizing settings to match company policies and collective agreements.