In an era of increasingly flexible working hours and globally distributed teams, tracking work hours has become more significant than ever before. This importance is highlighted by the legal mandate implemented by the European Union in 2019, which obligates employers to record their employees’ daily working hours. The purpose of this regulation is to provide an objective basis for discussions between employers and employees, primarily aimed at preventing instances of overtime and ensuring workforce welfare.

The new legal requirement echoes a landmark case that took place in 2017 when the Spanish trade union, CCOO, sued Deutsche Bank. The union argued that the bank should have a system in place to record employees’ daily working hours, suspecting that employees were working excessively. The case was escalated to EU courts, which confirmed the employees’ rights to:

• An average weekly working time of less than 48 hours within a four-month period
• A minimum rest period of 11 consecutive hours per day (24 hours)
• A weekly day off

The EU Court ruled in 2019 that member states must require employers to establish processes ensuring that employees’ actual daily working hours are registered. Denmark, like all EU member states, will adopt this legal requirement soon, aligning its labour market practices with the EU norm.

Businesses now face a decision: proactively start tracking employee time ahead of the upcoming legislation or wait until the law makes it mandatory.

While change is on the horizon, businesses in Denmark can already explore the benefits of time tracking and registration. By being proactive, companies can gain a head start, ensuring they are fully prepared when the legislation is enacted. Additionally, early adoption of time registration helps businesses alleviate risks associated with non-compliance, including potential lawsuits and penalties. It encourages a smooth transition to the new regulations, fostering a culture of compliance that not only abides by the law but also safeguards the organization and its employees.

The Business Case for Time Tracking & Registration

Legal requirements aside, time registration offers a multitude of benefits for both employees and managers. At first glance, some may perceive it as an additional task or even a means of surveillance. However, when implemented correctly, time registration can deliver a suite of advantages that extend far beyond mere regulatory compliance.

Transparent and fair compensation becomes a reality with accurate payroll management, made possible by a precise record of the actual hours worked by each employee. These data points can also provide invaluable insights for performance evaluations, offering an objective basis for constructive feedback and developmental discussions.

Time registration also leads to informed decision-making regarding workforce optimization and resource allocation. It enables a comprehensive understanding of how time is spent across projects, clients, and tasks, offering insights into work patterns and productivity levels.

Lastly, it’s an effective tool for promoting a healthy work-life balance. By identifying instances of overwork or underutilization, it helps prevent burnout, reduce stress, and ensure employees have sufficient time for rest and recreation.

Therefore, despite just a legal mandate, time tracking is also a strategic tool that drives efficiency, fairness, and productivity, fostering a more engaged and balanced workforce.

Elevating Time Registration to Next-Level Compliance

For those seeking to harness the advantages of time registration, TimePlan offers a powerful and user-friendly solution. We bring to the table almost 30 years of experience in the field, having consistently evolved and innovated to meet the multifaceted needs of modern businesses. Our commitment to excellence has made us a trusted name in workforce management.

TimePlan, however, is not just about tracking time. It’s an intelligent system, steeped in years of experience, capable of managing and interpreting numerous variations of collective agreements simultaneously. This advanced feature simplifies the complex process of workforce scheduling, ensuring that all regulations and agreements are accurately reflected and complied with.

With TimePlan, you’re not just adopting a tool; you’re partnering with a seasoned player in the field. We offer the assurance of a system that has been refined over decades to minimize compliance risk and maximize operational efficiency. Ultimately, TimePlan helps you to stay legally compliant and elevates your workforce management strategy by seamlessly integrating the complexities of modern work arrangements into a unified, intuitive platform.

An Intelligent Solution for Workforce Management

With TimePlan, employees can seamlessly sign in and out using a card reader, pin code, or the TimePlan Web App on phones, tablets, and computers. This dynamic interface gives managers a real-time overview of their workforce, knowing who is at work and who is in the building at any given moment.

Beyond just clocking in and out, TimePlan also provides a robust tool for recording absence, including sickness and holiday. This can be conveniently done via the TimePlan App. This feature is particularly crucial in today’s ever-changing business environment, as it enables companies to handle and respond to unexpected changes efficiently, thereby ensuring an uninterrupted and productive workflow.

As Denmark stands on the cusp of implementing the EU’s legal requirement for time tracking & registration, TimePlan serves as a potent tool for businesses to not just comply with these new regulations, but to leverage them to unlock a myriad of organizational benefits. As we navigate the evolving landscape of work, effective time registration practices, facilitated by advanced tools like TimePlan, are emerging as a cornerstone of a productive, well-balanced, and future-ready workforce.

As a result, TimePlan empowers organizations to stay a step ahead, allowing them to harness the full potential of time registration and ensuring a smooth transition to the new legal norms. By doing so, it not only supports the operational agility of businesses but also contributes to building an equitable work environment that respects and protects employees’ rights.

Walk you like to know more? Talk to TimePlan expert.