Time and attendance for Startups - the problem with neglecting time tracking

One of the reasons why startups can move fast and achieve incredible levels of success is the motivation of their highly qualified teams. The price for this success comes in the form of late nights at the office and weekends being spent at work.

While the spirit of total commitment to the company and its idea is important, neglecting time tracking and the correct management of working hours can be a costly mistake. Thankfully, a new generation of software solutions are available for time and attendance tracking that is as flexible as a startup.

The consequences are real

It has become an unspoken rule that working in a startup environment is rewarding but time-consuming for employees. On top of that, the global pandemic has made working from home even more common and has further deteriorated the divide between “work time” and “time off”.

Tracking time and attendance has never been a top priority for startups. It’s often times regarded as a historic tool for micromanaging your workforce. And while it doesn’t seem to fit in with the spirit of a startup, every company is well advised to establish a basic tracking solution regardless.

Because the consequences of neglecting time tracking are very real! The legal implications are certainly one aspect of it. Depending on the country your startup is based in, the results of a lack of time tracking can range from “not a big deal” to “this will cause a lawsuit with fines that will absolutely ruin our company”.

Another important factor is the message it sends to the people working at a startup. The tracking of time and attendance does not mean that a company is spying on its employees, making sure they put in the time they are paid for.

This notion is ridiculous for multiple reasons: A startup is a place where motivated and often times highly qualified people try to achieve great things. It doesn’t really attract people who put in the minimum effort. And even if: nobody could slack off in a small organization with family vibes anyway.

What time tracking provides instead is a way to make sure that employees get the compensation and appreciation they deserve. It is a tool that helps the workforce get more free time, a better work-life balance or negotiate for better pay. The only problem is how difficult it is - used to be!

New solutions for fast-moving companies

Time tracking solutions have evolved quite a bit in the last few years and are definitely on par with the speed of a modern startup. By using simple apps, it is possible to manage time and attendance, access and even handle absence requests and workflows.

You could certainly introduce an old-school punch card machine at the office entry, too. But in times of home office, global remote work and the four-day-work-week, a time and attendance solution need to be as flexible as the workforce itself.

Even if your startup is not (yet) legally required to track the time and attendance of your employees, it can be a great idea to start now. The necessary structures can grow with the company, and you show from the start that fairness is an important value to you.