Timekeeping in the Workplace and its Effectiveness – Part One

How a company functions can impact multiple aspects of the business. Timekeeping is a particular aspect in the workplace used for the completion of a task for many other important reasons. It can be used for company records as well as measuring employee productivity. Below you will find some of the more specific reasons companies keep and types of timekeeping devices.

To put it simply, timekeeping is one of the easiest methods to determine the cost or value of one’s work. We have developed many methods of timekeeping for as long as individuals have been working. Especially during the times of Covid, when employees are expected to keep track of their time while at home, timekeeping has become vital. Work cost is not the only reason for companies’ timekeeping. It is also used to review work outcomes, improve work results, and provide input information for certain business decisions. Timekeeping lets higher-ups at a company know important information and make certain decisions regarding task management. If they know how much time it takes for individuals to do a task or a group of people to complete a group project, it makes productivity more cost and time effective.

The use of timekeeping today varies drastically from the 19th and 20th centuries. Technology simply hadn’t yet evolved to provide information that companies needed to be most efficient in a timely manner. Timekeeping merely tracked time, punctuality, and work attendance, otherwise known as a timesheet. Timesheets were mainly used by business consultants and attorneys when they were first developed, but as time went on, factory manufacturing, website development, and even IT began using timesheets. Now, instead of the piece of paper that you may or may not think of when you think of a timesheet, many companies use tools including phones and other forms of technology to keep a record of easily and quickly one’s time and efficiency. These technologies can generate reports that well document time and also how the time is being spent.

Both the employer and the employees can benefit greatly from timekeeping. As mentioned above, knowing how one’s time is being utilized can allow employees to work in a way that is time and cost-efficient. This ultimately improves workplace flow, company organization, and procrastination.

Timekeeping accurately provides data that is used in company invoice billing, bookkeeping, and accounting purposes. This is especially beneficial for companies that bill their clients by the hour and need an exact time. This improves the company’s brand and client-seller communications. Clients are more likely to trust you and keep coming back knowing that you are billing them honestly and appropriately.

Organization is key when it comes to running a company. Through timekeeping, companies develop plans and work tasks based on previously recorded timekeeping data. Companies see where issues lie within the workplace based on when, where, and how their employees are most productive. It is a matter of finding a flaw and effectively remedying the solution based on the reliable data collected. By developing a system and using timekeeping, you will see how long it takes to perform a certain work task and when it is to be completed. Companies and employers assess how long a task is realistically supposed to take. Timekeeping is a form of communication between the employee and employer, which also helps promote a healthier work environment. Employees won’t feel as overwhelmed because these timesheets can also provide insight on work overload. This allows the employer to evenly divide the workload amongst his employees or develop a plan that works best for individuals.

The effect and use of integrating a quality timekeeping system in the workplace best collect data, track time accurately, and correctly plan for meetings, invoicing, accounting, etc. Having an organized and well-run company improves employee satisfaction which in turn improves job completion results. With fewer mistakes and higher completion rates, the company can continue to flourish. Timekeeping needs vary from company to company, depending upon certain departments and the company’s type of work. It is the responsibility of the employer to decide what timekeeping method works best for their employees and result in positive outcomes for the entire company and its clients. The critical aspect of timekeeping is choosing the system or method that best suits the company’s need for important information regarding work time and putting it to good use to improve the company’s products or services process and do the best job possible for clients or customers.