Drawbacks to electronic timekeeping devices in managing office cleaning and contract cleaning services.
Many cleaning companies have introduced electronic timekeeping devices
to keep track on their staff's timekeeping.
Here at ICS Cleaning we are all for improving our services and cutting back on waste and therefore reducing costs and being more competitive. So when we first found out about these devices some years ago we looked into them in some depth.
Most of the systems either involve the cleaner on site telephoning into a number set and stating their name, some password when they turn up to the site and when they leave. This information is then processed by the software usually on site which records and draws up a timesheet and notifies cleaning companies of absences and poor timekeeping.
The first obvious drawback for this system is that it is easy to manipulate. For example on a multi cleaner site, there is no reason if only 3 of the allocated 4 cleaners turn up, that one cleaner phones in for the absent cleaner, and because the voice recognition software is very basic, the absent cleaner would be recorded as being on site and therefore processed onto the timesheets.
Another drawback is that cleaning companies become too reliant on the devices and cease to monitor the cleaners as rigorously as we would expect, and assuming someone is clocking in ok does not equate to the cleaning being done to the client's requirements. If a cleaner clocks on time and this is recorded, they then spend half their time talking on their phone and not cleaning, leave on time and clock off, the cleaning company could based on these devices assume the cleaning is being done.
ICS take another approach, firstly we think there is no substitute for good management, turning up unannounced, regular support and training - all good management which electronic timekeeping devices do not address. ICS also take the approach that just basing the cleaning on the number of hours worked is not the best way to deliver a high standard of cleaning everyday. Firstly some cleaners work faster than others, secondly the client want their premises cleaned to a set standard everyday, if one area needs more attention than an another we train our staff to attend to those areas first and to ensure when they leave every area is cleaned to our high standards.
Find out more or get a free online quote.
Here at ICS Cleaning we are all for improving our services and cutting back on waste and therefore reducing costs and being more competitive. So when we first found out about these devices some years ago we looked into them in some depth.
Most of the systems either involve the cleaner on site telephoning into a number set and stating their name, some password when they turn up to the site and when they leave. This information is then processed by the software usually on site which records and draws up a timesheet and notifies cleaning companies of absences and poor timekeeping.
The first obvious drawback for this system is that it is easy to manipulate. For example on a multi cleaner site, there is no reason if only 3 of the allocated 4 cleaners turn up, that one cleaner phones in for the absent cleaner, and because the voice recognition software is very basic, the absent cleaner would be recorded as being on site and therefore processed onto the timesheets.
Another drawback is that cleaning companies become too reliant on the devices and cease to monitor the cleaners as rigorously as we would expect, and assuming someone is clocking in ok does not equate to the cleaning being done to the client's requirements. If a cleaner clocks on time and this is recorded, they then spend half their time talking on their phone and not cleaning, leave on time and clock off, the cleaning company could based on these devices assume the cleaning is being done.
ICS take another approach, firstly we think there is no substitute for good management, turning up unannounced, regular support and training - all good management which electronic timekeeping devices do not address. ICS also take the approach that just basing the cleaning on the number of hours worked is not the best way to deliver a high standard of cleaning everyday. Firstly some cleaners work faster than others, secondly the client want their premises cleaned to a set standard everyday, if one area needs more attention than an another we train our staff to attend to those areas first and to ensure when they leave every area is cleaned to our high standards.
Find out more or get a free online quote.
posted by Office Cleaning London Contract Cleaners
For UK
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