Controlling employee working hours: advantages and disadvantages

3 of June, 2025

The working hours help to set a beginning and an end to the performance of tasks. Their control can measure multiple aspects such as punctuality. Today, due to the different work forms that exist, problems may arise in managing it. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a proper control of work time.

Do you still not know how to maintain a good worktime control? We tell you all about it in this article. Take note of everything we explain here!

What is work time control?

Work time control involves a start and end time of work, as well as the performance of tasks. With the control of work time various aspects that affect companies can be seen and taken into account, such as punctuality for example.

That is, when we talk about control of work time, we refer to the registration of the entry and exit time of employees working in an organization. This way, not only can the hours worked by each collaborator be known, but also how they are distributed throughout the day or what absences there have been.

To carry out work time control, different processes can be used, such as with smart cards, magnetic stripe cards, barcode cards or a digital platform. A personnel management software like Sesame HR can be very useful in these cases.

Advantages of maintaining work time control

The control of work time requires a follow-up that the Human Resources department must carry out. However, this task has multiple benefits for both the company and the staff.

Reduction of labor absenteeism

The control of work time allows companies to have an accurate record of the hours worked by each employee, knowing their entry and exit hours. This can help identify patterns of labor absenteeism, facilitating the taking of measures to reduce them.

Reduces administrative tasks

Often times, the work time control is automated and the information is collected and registered on the platform, which speeds up administrative tasks. Among other tasks, they allow streamlining the management of overtime or salary to be paid.

Easy data measurement

By digitizing this process, possible errors in information manipulation are eliminated, reducing the work to be done. If you have a platform that generates reports for periods of entry, exit, or free time, the process is sped up, being able to maintain a greater control of work time.

Improves productivity

By having an accurate record of the hours worked, companies can identify the areas where improvements can be made to enhance work productivity. For example, if employees are frequently coming in late or leaving early, the company can take measures to improve time management.

In a similar way, it allows to know and determine with greater certainty whether more workers will be needed for a certain project or not.

Multidevice option

Most of the platforms used for control of working hours stand out for their ability to record work hours from different devices. In this way, both people who work from the office, and those who do it from home, can check-in anywhere.

Guarantee of labor rights

The control of work time helps to ensure that workers comply with their workday and do not perform overtime without compensation. This represents an improvement and greater tranquility among the staff.

Greater transparency

A good control and management of work time gives the staff a better understanding of their own working day. This can help workers manage their work time more efficiently.

Ease of reconciliation of work and family life

This process can help workers reconcile their work and family life. By having an accurate record of their working hours, workers can better plan their time and responsibilities.

Improves employees’ self-esteem

A work time control also influences the employee’s self-esteem, which will make the worker feel valued, being more efficient and productive in their job.

Ease of use

Having a work time control system for employees facilitates and speeds up this task, as you only have to check in at the entrance door. Also, if there are changes throughout the day, they collect it, avoiding having to redo that work.

Disadvantages of not having work time control

The disadvantages of not having a work time control system that is quality and easy to use are numerous, both for companies and for workers. Some of them are:

Increase in labor absenteeism: the lack of a work time control system makes it difficult to identify absenteeism patterns, increasing it.
Larger amount of administrative tasks: if it is not had, it forces human resources employees to carry out administrative tasks manually, which can be a source of errors and a waste of time.
Reduction in productivity: the lack of a work time control management system makes it difficult to identify the areas where productivity improvements can be made.
Legal problems: in some countries, the lack of a work time control system can lead to breaches of labor laws, as it represents a lack of guarantee of labor rights.
Lack of transparency: by not having a work time control system, it prevents workers from knowing their work hours exactly.
Problems of work and family life conciliation.

Steps to conduct the control of work time

We delve into the necessary steps to carry out an effective time control in organizations with more than 50 employees. We will explore from the selection of the appropriate system to the intelligent analysis of the collected data.

Each step represents a key piece in the process to ensure efficient time management and decision-making based on accurate and detailed information.

1. Determine the most suitable time control system

In the first step, you should evaluate and select the time control system that best suits your needs. This involves considering aspects such as the nature of the work, the available technological infrastructure, and the comfort of the employees.

An exhaustive analysis of costs, ease of use, and integration with other business systems is crucial to making the right decision.

2. Implement the system

Once the system is chosen, efficient implementation is key. The training of employees is essential to ensure that they understand how to use the time control system correctly.

For this, clear instructions and practical demonstrations must be provided to ensure a smooth adoption. In addition, you must establish clear policies on the accurate registration of work hours and punctuality to ensure the effectiveness of the system.

3. Monitor and adjust the time control system

Regular monitoring of time control is essential to identify possible failures or areas of improvement. You should establish protocols to monitor the functioning of the system and collect feedback from employees to detect any problem.

This allows you to make necessary adjustments or updates to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the system.

4. Analyze the data

The collection of data through the time control system provides valuable information on work productivity of employees and work patterns.

By analyzing this data, the company can identify areas of improvement, evaluate the work distribution, and make informed decisions to optimize resources and increase efficiency.

The control of time in a company with more than 50 workers requires a systematic and well-structured approach. By prioritizing this management, you can improve your operational efficiency and promote a more organized work environment.

How to improve time control with Sesame HR?

Sesame HR is a work time control software that will allow you to manage the time in your company in a simple and centralized way. You will be able to digitize the management of your employees’ check-ins, reduce labor absenteeism and ensure compliance with the Work Time Control Law.

In addition, its Work Time Control App allows:

A simple registration from any device: this allows complete and accessible management at any time and place.
Geolocation check-in: provides you with information about the location from where the records are made.
Flexible program for Smart Working: tools adapted to work flexibility, allowing the management of telework check-ins and absences due to remote work.

In summary, with the Sesame HR time control, you can maximize efficiency and productivity in your company, while ensuring compliance with the law. Register, get a 14 day free trial and optimize the working hours in your team.

Professional with over 20 years of extensive experience in various areas of Human Resources (Recruitment, Training, Occupational Risk Prevention, and Personnel Management). Experience in the Management Department: Broad understanding of the company and HR.

Do you want to rate our article?

cristinamartin

HR Content Specialist