Traditional
clock punching may work for hourly or factory workers, but for the
professional salaried employee, this may be an unnecessary,
expensive, and sometimes insulting way to go.
Time Sheets
Even for the
salaried professional, it is not uncommon to fill out a timesheet
that aids payroll in providing paychecks and tracking vacation,
sick, and other time off.
Sign-Out Boards
For employees
who work in the field in particular, establishing a sign-out board
is a good way to keep track of employees’ whereabouts and time of
exit or return. If an employee needs to be reached, the board can
assist by identifying the person’s destination(s). When checking
up on an employee is in order, a manager can record the
whereabouts stated and confirm whether or not the visit occurred
as stated.
Management
Tracking of Absences
Monitor
excessive absences and take immediate action by way of counseling
and discipline if necessary. On the reverse, it is also important
to be sure employees take their proper time off to prevent burnout
and decreases in morale, or loss of time off benefits.
Remind employees
of the importance of attendance, not just for company but personal
performance.
Reward
Attendance
Though it is a
basic job expectation to attend work, sometimes it is taken for
granted; it certainly does not hurt to remind employees of the
importance of timeliness, which includes being on time for work
and appointments with customers or clients. Instituting a reward
system that could include a simple certificate serves this purpose
and encourages employees to continue to value attendance.
Document,
Explain and Enforce Leave and Absence Categories
To save
confusion and aggravation on both the manager’s and employee’s
part, establish a policy about the company’s exact definitions of
all types of absences allowed, and the steps that need to be taken
to honor the time off. Companies may allow sick time, but some may
only allow it for an actual sickness; another company may allow it
for medical appointments or child’s illness. Vacation time should
be explained. Personal days are offered in some companies. It
should be explained if this includes vacation, bereavement, or
other types of time off benefits. It is important to be consistent
among all employees within a category (hourly, salaried,
management or non-management) in terms of allowed time off, how to
request it, and management approval procedures.
