Here are some ways to prevent time theft. Some employees clock in or out late. Some employees also “buddy punch,” which means they get someone else to sign the attendance sheet in their place. To prevent time theft, you should consider using an Internet or application monitoring solution. Another effective method is to communicate with your employees and keep a watchful eye on the company’s time records. But whether or not these methods can stop the theft depends on how much time you’re willing to spend on them.
Employees clock in late or clock out too early
In order to detect time theft, employers must review all instances in which employees clock in or out too late. A late employee may have been on the move and slacked off. In the case of time theft, the employer might not become aware of the issue until customers complain. To minimize the damage, employers must set up rules and make their employees aware of their duties. Then, follow through on disciplinary actions to prevent the employee from repeating the same behavior.
If your employees regularly clock in or out too early, you can prevent time theft by monitoring their activities online. The best way to do this is to install office cameras, use spy software, and create structures to prevent employees from skimming time. The policies and procedures should clearly spell out how employees should work and when they’re expected to come in and out. In some cases, you should also set up a time theft clause within your attendance policy.
Burnt out employees commit time theft
A high turnover rate in a company is an indication that the employees are disengaged and not engaged. If time theft is widespread, the employees’ morale is lowered, which affects the bottom line. Especially if they feel they are paid below minimum wage, employees commit time theft more often than higher-paid employees. As turnover increases, malaise creeps in and unhappy customers will take their business elsewhere. Here are some common causes of time theft among burnt out employees.
First of all, it is important to note that time theft is not always intentional. It often goes unnoticed until a customer complains or the employee stops showing up. Another way to detect time theft is by having one-on-one conversations with employees. Even if time theft is accidental, employers should not hesitate to take disciplinary action if there is a problem with their performance. If you can’t do so, you can always consider terminating the employee.
Internet and application monitoring solutions can help prevent time theft
In today’s world, employees have many ways to waste time. For example, a delivery driver may spend twice as long getting to a customer as expected, but claim that traffic was to blame. It’s likely they’ve been on social media or ran errands while working. It’s even harder to monitor employees who travel during work hours, such as delivery men, who may be in a coffee shop or resting in their car. Internet use can cost a business a great deal in productivity and financial loss.
While employers have the right to monitor employees, the right to privacy is a legitimate concern. Monitoring employees may be intrusive, and can lead to lawsuits. But, in some instances, monitoring can boost employee productivity. In fact, a recent study found that employees who were aware their superiors were watching them increased their productivity. This behavior may be legal, but it will cost the business a significant amount of money.
Communication with employees can help reduce time theft
The easiest way to prevent time theft is to communicate with your employees. When you ask them if they need time for personal reasons, it’s better to be listened to than to remain silent. Explain the purpose of an extended absence and explain why you need the time. Getting a clear picture of what is acceptable will also help prevent time theft. Employees will be more willing to report time theft if they feel their manager is listening to them and acting on their feedback.
Effective communication can also help you identify tasks that should take less time. Communicating with employees can help you identify time-stealing tasks and make them less convenient for employees. This communication does not have to be top-down, though. Employees should be able to approach managers directly with any concerns or issues. Setting goals for each employee can help you reduce time theft as well. Having open and honest communication is key to creating a strong team.
