When one looks up information about time tracking on the web, they are presented with information about how one can personally use time tracking to improve their productive output.
Yet, when we consider time tracking in a corporate setting, we find that it has quite a bad rep among employees. So much so that many organisations face serious backlash when they implement time tracking.
Now, this doesn’t always mean that employees that were not working honestly are worried about being ‘found out’.
In many cases, employees simply view employee time tracking as a sign of lack of trust between them and their employer. In others, they are worried they will be asked to answer for every second they are not looking into their computer screen. Some others may be worried that their managers will start using the time tracking data to micromanage them.
While some of these instances may be true in some organisations, the benefits of time tracking for employees and organisations are simply far too significant to be ignored. Here are some of the many benefits of employee time tracking:
Easily Identify And Eliminate Time Drains
In a corporate environment, we all have to engage in a number of tasks that don’t necessarily bring us closer to our goals or targets. These sometimes include replying to emails, coordinating tasks, following up with teammates, and other administrative tasks that aren’t usually part of the core responsibilities of an employee.
With time tracking data, managers can identify these ‘time drains’ and work with their team members to minimise the time spent on completing such tasks.
For instance, if you notice that your employees are wasting a lot of time answering the constant stream of emails that flow throughout the work day, you can advise them to clearly define three 15-minute windows during their day to check their email inbox and reply to any necessary emails.
Find And Minimise Distractions
Studies show that it takes 30 minutes to regain focus every time you get distracted. This means, every time one of your employees loses focus of the task they are doing, it will not just be hampered till they get back to it, but they will not be able to produce the optimum amount of productivity for another 30 minutes.
With time tracking data, you can identify when and where your employees are getting distracted. While completely eliminating all distractions is not always possible, especially when many professionals are working from home, identifying distractions makes it easier to reduce them.
Improved Work Life Balance For Employees
With many employees working from home these days, the lines between personal time and work time are blurring. If you too have noticed this pattern at your organisation, you should be pleased to know that your employees are truly working hard.
With that said, a poor work life balance can quickly spell disaster if not addressed on time. If your employees continue ignoring this important aspect of professional life, they will inevitably face a burn out that can not only affect their daily productivity, but their health as well. As any good manager knows, unhealthy employees are not productive.
With time tracking, your employees will be able to track their own working hours and will be able strictly demarcate personal time that is spent destressing, helping them avoid a burnout and remain productive.
Conclusion
Having a conversation about time tracking is perhaps the only way to communicate its benefits to your employees. We hope that these benefits will make you seriously consider implementing this amazing technology at your organisation.