Why Should My Salaried Employees Track Their Time?
Tracking how much time your hourly employees work is essential for making sure you pay them accurately. But, what about your salaried team members? Since they are paid the same amount each paycheck regardless of how many hours they worked, it’s often not necessary to track their time. Still, there are several reasons why you might ask them to clock in and out.
1. Accountability
Tracking how long each of your salaried team members is working can increase accountability in your small business. If your team isn’t punching the clock, it can be tempting for them to take extended lunches or leave a few minutes early every day. This could decrease their productivity, which can cost your small business money. If you notice that some of your salaried staff aren’t getting their work done, consider having them start to clock in and out to dissuade them from performing personal activities during the workday. By using an online time clock system, like Workful, your employees will be able to track how much time they work each week and how long their breaks are.
Clocking in and out can also make you aware of how much they additional time they are working. If they’ve been putting in 10+ hour days trying to meet deadlines, they might have too much on their plate. Being able to prove how much time they’ve worked, including time spent working from home, can help ensure you’re assigning them a realistic workload.
2. Prepare for overtime changes
Some of your salaried employees may be entitled to overtime pay if they make under a certain amount per week. The Department of Labor (DOL) regularly reviews the minimum salary requirement for overtime exemption and will occasionally increase the threshold. Just because one of your team members is currently exempt from overtime, doesn’t mean they always will be. By asking your salaried staff to start clocking in and out now, you can keep an eye on how much overtime they’re regularly working, and they’ll already be in the habit of tracking their time if they do become eligible for overtime pay.
3. Track time off
Paid time off (PTO) is a policy that allows your workers to take time away from work while still getting paid.. By giving your staff time off, you’re showing them that you trust them to do great work for the company. PTO can also reward your staff for their continued hard work, prevent them from burning out, and create a positive work environment. By tracking how much time your employees are working, you’ll be able to more accurately track how much PTO they’re using to ensure they aren’t taking more than the agreed amount.
PTO is a great way to attract new workers and reward your team. Learn more about why you should consider implementing a PTO policy.
4. Allow flexibility
Sometimes, a salaried member of your staff may need to come in late or leave early. If you can see on your time clock that they continue to get their work done and regularly work the agreed upon amount of time each week, you may be willing to give them flexibility when they need it.