Workforce management technology helps retailers control labor costs and manage compliance while streamlining time-consuming, error-prone processes. Too often, however, we overlook the benefits these tools can bring to employees. Especially in these uncertain times, workforce management solutions can add real value by engaging team members in ways that make them feel empowered, connected, and valued.
Employee self-service is a great example of how technology can be used to make life easier for your associates — whether you’re conducting business as usual or facing unprecedented circumstances as we are right now. Self-service tools empower your employees to be independent when they need to access information and complete a wide variety of tasks — at any time, from any location.
Here are three scenarios in which UKG employee self-service supports business goals while empowering associates with flexibility, convenience, and control for a better overall work experience.
Recording time
Self-service enables team members to punch in and out from their mobile devices, but that’s just the beginning. You can also use self-service to have employees attest to time worked and meal/rest breaks taken for compliance purposes. For example, after your associates work a shift of four or more hours, you can ask whether they took a rest break via a friendly prompt on their smartphone. You can even notify associates of how much time they have left on their meal break — a handy feature to keep them on schedule when they’re off site running an errand or grabbing a bite to eat.
These same self-service attestation features can be used to check in on employee morale and well-being. This is particularly useful in our current situation. As localities ease restrictions on social distancing and stores and restaurants start to reopen, you can use self-service to ask team members if they felt safe during their shift. When they punch out, you can even inquire whether they were given a mask to wear or if their temperature was taken at the start of their shift. Responses can be used to evaluate whether proper protocols are being followed to protect your team members — and your customers.
As these examples illustrate, self-service tools not only support accurate time recording and labor law compliance for employers, but they can enhance communication so employees stay informed and feel like their voices are heard.
Managing time
Everyone likes to have options. With UKG, your associates have the option to view and approve their timecard at the clock, on a workplace computer (if one is available), or from their mobile device. Self-service also lets them submit missed punches or modify their timecard as needed using their choice of device. These days, when we’re all dealing with the challenges of stay-at-home orders, your employees will appreciate the ability to perform these tasks at their convenience — whether they’re at work, walking the dog, or taking care of their children at home.
In addition, self-service empowers your associates to check and approve their timecards — anywhere, anytime — helping ensure that they’re paid accurately for hours worked. At the same time, self-service delivers productivity benefits to administrators by reducing the time managers spend resolving timecard exceptions and fixing payroll errors.
Managing schedules
With employee self-service, your team members can check accrual balances and view schedules from work, from home, or on the go. Even better, they can perform a variety of tasks that give them greater control over their schedules — and their work/life balance. Some of these are employee-to-manager transactions, such as Request Time Off, Request Work Time, Request Open Shift or Request Change Availability. Others, including Swap Shift and Request to Cover, are employee-to employee transactions that are automatically routed to the manager for approval. Employees can track the status of these requests at any time.
Employee scheduling isn’t easy in the best of times, but it may become even more challenging as businesses adjust to the new normal. When stores and restaurants start to reopen, some team members may be reluctant to return to work right away, resulting in coverage gaps at some locations. Self-service significantly reduces the amount of time managers spend on daily schedule management by involving associates in the scheduling process. By giving employees the ability to swap shifts, pick up open shifts, request covers, and more, employers are able to fill shifts, reduce call-outs, and nurture a more engaged and productive workforce.
Employee self-service for the win
A complete and impactful labor management approach needs to take into account both employer and employee requirements. Employee self-service can support your workforce management strategy — and drive your business goals — by capturing accurate time records, enforcing compliance rules, and empowering workers with greater self-sufficiency and control. When team members feel engaged and appreciated at work, they’re more likely to stick around and deliver great service. All that adds up to higher productivity, reduced turnover, a better customer experience, and bottom-line results.
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