Did you know that $7.4 billion is lost per day due to unrecorded work activities?
When it comes to keeping track of labor and attendance in the workplace, there are usually places where a business can improve, but it can be hard to know where to start. How can you track these things? How can you ensure your employees stay honest and accountable?
Luckily, we’re here to help you out. Read on to learn six of the best tips for labor management.
1. Hire the Right People
This might seem simple, but having the right people on your team is very important if you want your business to thrive. When everyone can work together, it’s a lot easier to accomplish the things you set out to do.
It’s important to make sure your hiring process is optimized for bringing in engaged employees. Having disengaged employees can be a burden to workflow and your business’s overall profits, and replacing them can get expensive.
Remember, though, that experience doesn’t always mean they’re the best. If someone comes in showing a lot of potential and more eagerness to learn about your company than another potential hire with years of experience, you might be surprised at the results the less experienced person can bring to your team.
With a little time and investment, you can build a team that meets every one of your needs.
2. Invest in Proper Training
You should also invest in proper training for your employees. Not only are they more efficient, but they’ll have a process laid out that allows them to grow into different positions, meaning they’ll be inclined to take advantage of the opportunity.
When your employees don’t feel stuck or stagnant in their work, that means there’s more room for them to feel fulfilled and valued. If you provide them with this safety net from the beginning, they’re a lot more likely to want to stick around for the long haul.
3. Establish Standards
It’s also important to prioritize health and safety, and setting specific standards for employees to follow can help do exactly this. That means no excessive hours, as it can lead to underperformance and too many dangerous mistakes.
When workers feel safe in their workplace, you’re also going to see increased levels of initiative and even improved communication and engagement.
You’re also going to help reduce confusion on a lot of fronts, as they’re going to know exactly what they need to do when they come to work each day. With that reduced confusion comes a lot more room for positive change and innovation.
When the basics are all cared for, employees have more time to focus on the things that actually matter, and your business has more room to thrive.
4. Keep Track of Everything
To help ensure a smooth workflow that promotes efficiency, having a good organizational structure set up before production begins is essential. Without standards and effective material tracking methods, you’re going to spend the majority of the workday locating equipment and materials. This will lead to a drop in productivity and major time delays.
If your employees are constantly stuck looking for things or wondering about what needs to be done, they’re going to get frustrated. Not only does this mean wasted time for you, but it could also have negative impacts like a loss in retention.
5. Prioritize Safety
No matter your industry, there are going to be safeguards in place that prioritize employee safety, and it’s important that you keep up with any changes. That means conducting frequent audits of your practices to ensure you’re always compliant.
If you need help, always know there are a number of tools that can optimize this process and help you avoid costly lawsuits or attention from the wrong agencies.
Time tracking is a great example of this. If one of your employees misrepresents their hours, you’re going to be expected to fulfill those overtime expenses.
That’s why it’s so important for you to keep detailed records of the times that you and your employees may have disputed hours. You’ll have the documentation necessary to show and prove your side of the story.
6. Measure Progress and Results
Finally, it’s important to measure and track your employee’s progress and results. With evidence-based management, you’ll be able to measure how well your business is performing in key areas, like productivity and safety.
You’ll gather relevant data that demonstrates the value that each team member brings to the team, and you’ll complete regular evaluations of their performance objectives. That’s why it’s essential for each team member to have a goal they’re working towards.
With this information, you’ll be able to monitor their success and yours by regularly assessing your team members’ contributions, including how well they handle change and what their on-site behavior looks like.
Having a formal process for tracking these results is essential. It will help you see which aspects require more attention on a team and also individual level, and your business will have more tangible goals to work towards.
How Will You Approach Labor Management?
While these tips can help you get started, how you choose to labor management is ultimately up to you and your business. It’s essential to find solutions that work for both you and your employees, and that can take some trial and error. Don’t feel discouraged if things don’t work out the first time around, a revisit to the drawing board might work wonders.
Luckily, we can help you no matter what step of the journey you’re on. Contact us for your free quote today.
