3 Reasons Why Your Employee Time Tracking is Failing 

Many companies ask staff to track time and provide a report at the end of the day or the week, which is supposed to give a comprehensive picture of productivity. However, there is one significant drawback. Reports are based on memory and self-reporting. 

By and large, the data is inaccurate when you’re relying only on memory. It’s far more effective to integrate tracking right from the start. It will ensure more reliable data and let managers monitor the team’s overall workload so they can distribute tasks and projects better. 

Here are a few more reasons why your tracking is failing and how to remedy the situation. 

1. It takes too much work

Your company might be using Asana, Slack, or Trello to manage workflow. Adding a new time tracking tool might seem like a lot of extra work. Many trackers operate based on a simple ‘start timer and go’ mechanism, which provides an inaccurate view of how employees spend their time at work. It also presents the risk of duplication, where more than one employee tracks time for the same task, and you don’t know who did what and how much.

If you choose tracking tools wisely, you can avoid ending up with a pile of data on your hands which you don’t know what to do with. Your tracker should integrate with any project management tools you are currently using. You’ll save money and time because employees won’t have to switch back and forth to track time. 

Software that offers integration lets you run your current systems seamlessly, tracking the time of all team members without duplication. This gives an accurate and balanced assessment of time spent on work. 

Employees will be more inclined to use software that requires minimal training or effort to implement. 

2. Tracking feels intrusive 

Tracking time can feel intrusive, especially if the goals and procedures are not clear from the start. Many trackers take screenshots and pictures of the employee. Some even monitor the entirety of computer activity, including what sites they were looking at while on their break. This is irrelevant and intrusive. The data tracked is stored on another server somewhere. This could be a problem if it includes confidential information.

The solution to the issue of perceived intrusiveness is being honest with your team. Explain to them why you want to track their time. If you don’t, they’ll draw their own conclusions, which might be wrong. 

Explain the benefits of tracking time, such as improved time management, reduced stress, and greater transparency. Make sure the team is trained to use the new software. Provide a tutorial or make a video showing your employees how to use the new tool. Expect some mistakes initially, and allow your employees to ask questions. 

3. Employees lack motivation

The third reason your tracking is failing is low motivation to adopt it. Your team might feel it’s not necessary. It may have multiple positive effects, such as higher profit and personal productivity, but they need to understand that. They need to see the value in tracking time, which is where many companies go wrong.

Bosses are supposed to lead, not micromanage. You must convince your team of the benefits of tracking time. Use the tool yourself and make sure your employees can see you’re using it. One way is to communicate your time-tracking results. In fact, there are few better ways to build trust in the workplace. You’ll be well-equipped to answer questions about the tool. 

As mentioned, be prepared to train your employees and explain why the tool is necessary. Demonstrating its benefits and effectiveness is vital to a successful outcome.

Also visit Digital Global Times for more quality informative content.