Let’s be honest, these are crazy times. Over the past six months, the COVID-19 crisis has impacted virtually every aspect of work and life, forcing employees and businesses to adapt fast in a rapidly changing environment.
From a people perspective, this crisis has been a time of fear, uncertainty, and stress. Lockdown and the need for social distancing have advanced digital transformation by years, with even the most traditional businesses adopting work-from-home, flexible working, and new shift management policies virtually overnight. But this rapid shift has often felt like a giant experiment, with the true benefits and drawbacks of remote work unfolding across the world in countless homes. In many cases, employees have struggled to stay motivated and connected, while those with young families have been forced into an almost impossible situation.
Then there’s the new regulatory landscape, with entirely new rules and guidelines that businesses and employees must comply with to stay safe. On top of all this is the need to remain productive and efficient during all the economic uncertainty.
Amongst all this change and upheaval, technology is becoming increasingly important in helping workplaces and people adapt and even thrive in the new normal – and no more so than time and attendance (T&A) software, which is helping businesses across all industries.
Remote work
With an increasing number of people working from home, it has never been more critical for businesses to know who is working and when. T&A software allows managers to gain an accurate, real-time view of their team’s attendance, supporting the flexible working patterns that are now standard in many companies.
And by allowing staff to clock in and out by simply pressing a smartphone or desktop, both employers and employees gain a level of transparency and accuracy around attendance that would be impossible with paper timesheets.
COVID compliance
With the safety of employees and customers in mind, businesses are now forced to manage an entirely new set of processes in order to stay COVID compliant.
Whether it’s handling furlough claims, enforcing social distancing, staggering shifts, implementing track-and-trace processes, or enabling better workforce planning, the data that T&A software provides can help businesses get a handle on their staff and efficiently deliver new work patterns and rules, all while automating processes and reducing error.
Productivity
Despite all the changes brought about by the COVID pandemic – whether it be the increased need for flexibility or the new workplace regulations – businesses still need to ensure that their workforce remains productive. In fact, in these times of economic uncertainty, it has never been more important to ensure that staff are working productively.
The right T&A software goes beyond showing when employees clock in and out, providing visibility into how much time is spent on individual tasks. This helps managers gain a clearer picture of the way employees are spending their time, despite not being in the same physical space as them.
Adapting to the new normal
The COVID crisis will eventually pass, but the impact it has had – and the changes it has brought about – may have a lasting impact on people and businesses. Nobody knows if there will be a second wave, or whether we’ll have to deal with another lockdown. Whatever happens, it’s likely that the workplace will never be the same again.
Businesses that leverage the power of technology such as T&A software will ensure that they have the right processes, data, and visibility to weather this storm and come out the other side stronger than ever.
For more information, please get in touch.
