The business world has gone through turbulent times, experiencing irreversible changes in the past two years. Entrepreneurs and employees have realized that remote and hybrid work offers numerous advantages, reaching out for advanced technology to create optimal digital offices and streamline business processes.
Even though it may seem that the future of the workplace looks bright empowered by digital transformation, many employees have significant concerns about monitoring and time tracking tools their managers want to use.
Some may say that time tracking is an ancient practice that business owners use to gain insight into employees’ attendance and time usage. However, non of the old-fashioned time tracking tools had advanced features that could intrude on employees’ privacy. This is why employees often frown upon the implementation of the advanced time tracker in their workflow.
On the other hand, managers and tech experts claim that employees can benefit from efficient software for employee time tracking, becoming more efficient and productive.
Here, you’ll find both pros and cons of using time tracking software and learn whether it’s employees friend or foe.
More Accurate Attendance Records
Automated time tracking apps start recording the minute computers start working without interfering with employees’ workflow and them having to start the clock. This eliminates human error or the possibility of hacking the system. The statistic shows that automated time tracking increases clock-ins accuracy by 15%, preventing false clock-ins and early clock-outs.
Furthermore, when used transparently, time tracking data can offer an invaluable insight into employees’ productivity. By accessing their dashboard, employees can see what activities are the most time-consuming and organize their workload better to make the most of their time.
Many employees fear that knowing that their time is tracked automatically can put them under pressure, making it hard to focus on complex and demanding tasks. But also many realize the advantages of data-driven insight in their time usage, and how they can use it to improve their time management. If you want to implement software for employee time tracking, make sure your employees learn about the benefits it brings to them.
Boosted Flexibility and Independence
It may sound contradictory but time tracking software offers more flexibility and autonomy in making work-related decisions. Despite the fact that most workers think that their managers use this solution to watch their every step, time tracking records eliminate the need for micromanagement.
Managers don’t need to hover over employees’ heads to make sure that they’re working. All they need to do is to analyze track data at the end of the day and get a clear picture of their team’s productivity.
By letting the software keep track of the time your employees spend working, you won’t interfere with their workflow often, asking for updates or offering unsolicited advice.
In this way employees will have the chance to organize their work when they’re most productive, seeking specific solutions independently.
This can boost their confidence and sense of doing meaningful work, leading to increased engagement and productivity.
Invasion of Privacy
Not all managers use these time trackers to benefit their employees and business. Those who decide to use tracking tools unethically and stealthily risk having legal issues and destroying their brand reputation.
This said, using time tracking software to gain insight into someone’s private browsing history or collect confidential information is a severe breach of trust that will ultimately lead to high turnover rates.
Screenshots Can Be Deceitful
Many time and productivity trackers offer screenshot feature that allows managers to see what their employees are doing at any time, separating productive apps and websites from unproductive ones.
While this feature gives you a clear picture of employees’ activities and productivity, this information can be deceitful if you don’t use it in a broader context.
There’s a difference between graphic designers using “unproductive”-labeled apps like YouTube or Pinterest seeking tutorials or ideas, and when someone from the Accounting department is using these.
So if you want to use this feature in the right way, you have to consider whether specific apps contribute to employees’ overall performance or not.
In short, employees can gain numerous benefits from time tracking software if their managers use it transparently, defining the goals they want to achieve by activity and time tracking.
