Today’s post is for business owners who have recently decided to adopt a Workforce Management system but have not yet implemented it. By following a few guidelines, you can have a smooth system conversion and begin to enjoy the benefits right away.
Here is the SwipeClock guide to Workforce Management implementation.
Make a Plan
We can help you create a practical timetable for the system conversion and decide which processes to transition first. Take advantage of our experience in helping organizations like yours transition quickly and easily.
Transition in Stages
If your company has several departments, you may want to tackle it in stages. Once one department has successfully transitioned to all the new workflows, you will have solved a few unexpected snags. You can use the knowledge gained to prevent the same dilemmas when the next department transitions.
Communicate the Benefits
It’s natural for associates to worry that a new system could impact their pay or add a layer of complication to their busy day. If supervisors can prepare team members so they know how the new systems will benefit them, they will be more likely to comply cooperatively. Emphasize the transparency and convenience of self-service time cards and having 24/7 access to accrual information. Demonstrate how the virtual trade board can make it easy to pick up extra shifts or swap shifts when needed.
Train Employees Thoroughly
Workforce Management Suite is so easy to use, we have never had a client whose employees couldn’t catch on quickly. Even if your staff is tech-savvy, however, make sure you train thoroughly, measure the effectiveness, and then remind them to use the system continually until everyone is on board. You can’t take advantage of the many features of Workforce Management Suite unless they are being used consistently and correctly.
Be Prepared for Possible Resistance
If you have offsite staff members who will be GPS tracked for the first time, be prepared for some blowback. Employees who are used to plenty of freedom may resist the increased supervision. Remember, as their employer you have every right to verify that your employees are working where they are supposed to be working. Explain that accountability is a two-way street; though they might feel micro-managed, tracking time to the minute benefits them when they work fifteen minutes past their usually shift end time or clock in a few minutes early. (If that is not allowed at your company, make sure you use the easy schedule enforcement tool in Workforce Management Suite.)
If you are implementing a biometric time clock and a team member is especially resistant, be aware that this might be a tip-off that he or she is guilty of time theft. Compare the hours worked before and after using the new clock for insight. If you discover a compelling drop in hours—congratulations—you have finally stopped paying for time not actually worked!
Answer Questions
Make sure you are available to answer questions about the new system. If your employees see that you are dedicated to alleviating concerns, they will be more likely to support you. However, don’t go so far as to make the new methods optional. Some businesses have failed to transition to a new system because they got so much resistance from their labor force they eventually gave up. Lowering labor costs, reducing admin hassles, and improving productivity will benefit everyone in your organization. Don’t let worker resistance deter you.
Designate an Implementation Manager
Ideally, all of your department managers will soon be committed to the new system and become fully fluent in all of the features. However, by assigning a proficient and dedicated person to own the project company-wide, you can centralize the implementation-specific communication and training and rely on your point person to make sure each department sticks with it until all teams and systems are transitioned.
We are dedicated to your success. Let the Workforce Management experts at SwipeClock help you start enjoying the myriad benefits Workforce Management Suite provides.
UPGRADE TODAY
SwipeClock offers WorkforceHUB, the unified Human Resources portal that makes it easy to optimize the performance of your supervisors, employees, and company.
WorkforceHUB includes TimeWorksPlus, TimeSimplicity, TimeWorks Mobile, and ApplicantStack. We’ve just added recruitment, onboarding, benefits enrollment, performance reviews, and employee engagement! WorkforceHUB is designed for busy employers like you who need to reduce cost-per-hire, streamline scheduling, automate time tracking, maintain regulatory compliance, and lessen labor costs.
How much can you save? Check our SwipeClock ROI Calculator.
We can get you up and running with Workforce Management Suite in minutes. Contact us today to set up a demo.
