Buddy punching is more serious of an issue than you may realize. It affects your daily business operations, the satisfaction of your customers, and the happiness of your employees. All of this, if left unattended, could lead your company to financial ruin over time.

Thankfully, there are many ways you can approach and resolve this problem without losing your employees. Various buddy punching technologies such as the face recognition time clock and simple fixes to your company culture can go a long way.

Here we’ll tell you all about it!

Set strict policies against time theft.

The worst thing you can do about time theft is nothing. If you never set any disciplinary measures, and you refuse to share your thoughts with your employees, they’re likely to continue their negative behavior patterns. Setting (and following) strict anti-buddy punching rules is key to eliminating this issue.

So, next time you have a company-wide meeting, let your opinions be known. Buddy punching is a serious offense that you won’t ever tolerate. If your employees have any issues that make them feel disengaged, they should be encouraged to talk to you instead.

Implement the necessary technology.

So, now that your employees know what the consequences of buddy punching will be, it’s time to follow through with your newly-set policies. However, if your employees never get caught attempting time theft, you hardly resolved anything at all! Luckily for you, there are many different technologies you can use to prevent and identify buddy punching with ease. One such technology revolves around a face-recognition time clock. Nobody can try to clock in for their coworker if they need to use their face to time their own hours!

Of course, besides the face recognition time clock, there are many other technologies you can use, depending on your specific needs and preferences. GPS trackers, fingerprint recognition, and automatic screenshot software are all viable options as well.

Keep track of your employees’ needs.

Have you ever wondered why your employees choose to rely on time-theft methods in the first place? It may have something to do with the work environment you created at your company.

There could be things that are bothering these employees, making them unmotivated and disengaged. The only way you can get to the root of the problem is by talking to your employees. Let them know you’re there to listen and help them resolve all of their work-related issues. Satisfied employees are much less likely to resort to buddy punching – always keep that in mind.

Encourage accountability at your company.

Accountability is an extremely important asset to every healthy company culture. Without it, nobody will be motivated to respect the rules the company sets. While this may not totally eliminate buddy punching from your office, it’s still a solution worth considering, especially if you don’t have the budget for Geo Fencing tech or a face recognition time clock.

A good way to go about this is to let your employees verify the arrival and leaving times of their coworkers, for example.

Don’t forget to update your systems and policies when necessary.

Once your company starts growing and changing, your anti-time theft policies and system need to be upgraded as well. For example, if you start employing remote workers or allowing your employees to work from home, you’ll need to implement the necessary digital solutions to prevent buddy punching in this specific new environment.