Best-in-Class Workforce Management Software from Industry Experts
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Manufacturing companies have been using analytics on data for various purposes: Budgeting and forecasting, data capture, employee scheduling, product quality, and so on. In the past, companies have generated and stored data in on-premise expensive data centers. And, in the past, the ability to perform analytics have been limited to manual spreadsheets, which are inefficient and costly. ATSTimeWorkOnDemand provides end-to-end solution, that allows manufacturing companies to harness all the data that they generate to improve operational efficiency, streamline business processes, and uncover valuable insights that drive profits and growth.

ATSTimeWorkOnDemand enables the manufacturing industry with smart solutions that includes:

Cloud-Native and Artificial Intelligence: ATSTimeWorkOnDemand delivers the latest innovations, while empowering your workforce and equipping them with the skills and tools to safely keep up with the new complexities and speed of digital manufacturing and machine learning.

Resilient Supply Chain: Enhance the end-to-end supply chain visibility, agility, and profitability through intelligent planning, real-time reporting capabilities, demand sensing, and API data integration.

Employee Scheduling: With ATS employee scheduling, you can connect production and office workers with the secure collaboration and information management tools needed to support remote work. Create optimized schedules in a single click. Employee preferences and skills are automatically matched with the optimized labour forecast, local and federal regulated compliance requirements, with policies to create fully-compliant schedules.

Flexible Data Collector Options: As employees work across different locations and regions, ATS cloud computing data collectors accurately calculate overtime, premium pay, time-off requests and other up-to-the-minute labour information. With robust AI horsepower, complex computations like these that go across locations used to take hours and can now be accomplished in seconds.

Reliability: ATSTimeWorkOnDemand is hosted in a highly-secure, SOC-compliant environment so you workforce management tools are always available no matter where you are, with just the click of your browser. You get 24/7 monitoring and unlimited capacity and support.

Scalability and Elasticity: ATSTimeWorkOnDemand cloud computing architecture enables auto-scaling and optimal performance. And, with ATSTimeWorkOnDemand manufacturing companies can drive new levels of agility, safety, productivity, and innovation using IoT, cloud-based computing.

Job Costing, Labour Distribution and Advanced Insights: ATSTimeWorkOnDemand computes optimal job costing transactions and labour hours based on forecasted demand and customer labour standards to drive efficient plans and operational insights.

Ready for a demo, download it here or go to www.atimesolutions.com

See how ATS Human Capital Management Solution can help you optimize your workforce management to reduce labour costs and increase operational efficiency.

To reach us by phone; call: 866.294.2467

As parts of Canada and the US begins the process of a slow reopening, social- distancing and workplace hygiene remains top of mind for employers and employees alike.  And, if some of your employees continue to work from home, you can make use of employee self-service and online web punch options, which means, you likely don’t have to think about workplace logistics for this cohort. But what about the employees who have to report to work because of the nature of your industry? Whether its food manufacturing, retail, or grocery, you probably have some way of recording their time. And, if you don’t, here are 3 ways to record employees time while they are on the job, that is both safe and contactless:

RFID/Keyfobs: ATS time clocks supports RFID and Smart Card/key fob reader options.  RFID, Smart cards and key fobs, do not require contact, and chances are some or all your employees already use these types of cards. 

FaceScan and IRIS Recognition Data Collectors: Due, in large part to the ongoing pandemic, more companies are requesting touchless data collectors. And, when combined with ATSTimeWorkOnDemand, innovative time and attendance app, these data collectors — pave the way for a new era of powerful employee time-tracking data that helps control labour costs and improve workforce productivity.

Proximity: ATS Proximity time clocks have an embedded sensor which reads the badge to quickly record employee arrival times, breaks, lunches, overtime and departure times. ATS proximity cards are “contactless” and is read when held within two inches of the time clock sensor. Alternatively, proximity wristbands offer another approach, this wearable method has the potential to ensure almost no contact between employees and time clocks.

Mobile and web time clocks: With ATSTimeWorkOnDemand application, employees can punch in/out from a personal device or terminal thus, eliminating hygiene concerns of a shared time clock. ATS mobile and web time clock options, delivers an engaging experience that drives user adoption across the workforce. Managers can initiate mass approvals, manage exceptions, and get approval alerts on mobile devices from anywhere 24/7.

Magnetic stripe or Barcode: Magnetic and Barcode cards: allow employees to swipe to clock in and out, without directly touching the time clock. ATS State-Of-The-Art Time Clocks are equipped with a large 7” touchscreen with and full color LCD Screen. It delivers a superior user experience and fast user adoption and has a straightforward user interface, that provides self-service view into any employee’s work-related information.

Bottomline: ATS contactless time clocks was designed with you and you and your payroll costs, in mind. ATSTimeWorkOnDemand offers complete automation and full visibility –with innovative and functionality that translates to faster employee deployment, less wasted time, and increased productivity.

To learn more, go to our website, where you can download a demo or brochures. To reach us by phone, call 866.294.2467.

Your company is all about growth and, the time and attendance software you choose to deploy, should be too. With ATS, your company will scale effortlessly on a product that’s delivered proven results for Canadian companies over a decade and counting.

ATS Time & Attendance, is the choice for many midsize businesses to run and integrate their payroll, HR and ERP applications in the cloud. Companies turn to ATS Time & Attendance to help cut their IT costs, reduce payroll costs and improve productivity.

So, why should you run your business in the cloud with ATS Time & Attendance?

  • Up-to-date: Automated upgrades deliver the latest innovations
  • Integrated: Payroll, HR, CRM, ERP, CRM and HCM suite cuts cycle times and errors
  • Visibility: Real-time dashboards and analytics that eradicates spreadsheets
  • Global: Multi-site intelligence scales as you grow
  • Efficient: Up-to-the-minute cloud delivery eliminates on-premise IT costs
  • Anywhere 24/7: Browser and mobile access lets you access from anywhere
  • Scalable: Configure to your company’s requirements with confidence

ATS Time and Attendance in the cloud utilizes emerging technologies and powerful predictive analytics to control costs and risks- manage increasingly complex transactions, and make better business decisions. When you deploy ATS Time & Attendance in the cloud you will:

Save time
ATS Time & Attendance is intuitive on-screen tips help you complete your payroll and HR tasks quickly and accurately.

Achieve piece of mind
ATS Time & Attendance complies with complex, ever-changing payroll regulations, collective bargaining agreements, municipal state and federal regulations.

Gain access to the software from anywhere
You can drive innovation, profitability, and growth, while making accurate, data-driven decisions. And, with anywhere access to your software you can run payroll at the office or on-the-road.

To learn more, go to our website and download a demonstration. To reach an account executive, call; 866.294.2467.

This blog is a follow up to The annual office Christmas party and the headaches it can create for HR managers . Holiday office parties is a time to get to know some of your co-workers like the payroll manager, who you would otherwise never see unless, you have issues with the inaccuracies of your paycheque, from the antiquated time clock-that your company has not updated. And, yes it is not intended as a boozy event,  popularized by the movie Office Christmas Party that would have any HR manager pulling his/her hair out.

 In a recent article, titled The Rules of Etiquette for Your Office Holiday Party by J.R. Duren for GlassDoor it contains 5 tips, that can help you can enjoy the company of your colleagues at the office holiday party-while, at the same time, avoid jeopardizing your career.

Here are the 5 tips from the article:

How to dress: Keep it classy

Experts across the board are united in their opinions about several aspects of office parties, attire included.

Lisa M. Grotts, a San Francisco-based etiquette expert, says your holiday party isn’t your chance to go overboard with gaudy outfits.

“Just because an office function is after work hours doesn’t mean it’s an invitation to dress flashy or wear a revealing outfit,” Grotts said. “Skirts should hit your knee and nothing should be too tight. Skip the cleavage-bearing tops.”

We heard the same sentiment from Jacquelyn Youst, a Pennsylvania-based etiquette consultant.

“Office holiday parties are an extension of the office. This is not the time or place to wear your short skirt and low-cut blouse,” Youst said. “Maintain a professional level of decorum.”

This isn’t your chance to push your “I’m casual so I dress casual” agenda, says Laura Handrick, an HR analyst at Fit Small Business.

How to drink: Keep it at two

This is the section you’ve probably been waiting for; all the good horror stories are usually the handiwork of booze and beer. As humorous as these stories can be, jobs and reputations are on the line when you’re four Sazeracs deep and ready to air your grievances.

Carlota Zimmerman, a career expert based in Los Angeles, says you can give yourself a head start by eating before you arrive.

“Even half a sandwich and a protein smoothie will work,” Zimmerman said. “Just get something inside you so that the first martini won’t have you self-righteously glaring at your boss as you mentally assemble your declaration of independence.”

How to converse: Keep it cordial

Office holiday parties require conversational skills — introvert or not, you’re probably going to be forced to talk with someone you don’t know that well.

The rules for conversation are essentially the same as drinking: moderation wins. Don’t get too deep and don’t come off as too superficial.

“Appropriate conversation is any compliment related to the holiday outfit others have chosen or any topic related to the holidays, family time or time off,” Handrick said. “’Will you get to see your mom this Christmas in upstate New York?’ is fine.”

When to leave: Read the room

Once you’ve had your chance to have a couple of drinks and engage in conversation, you may be ready to head home or to another party.

If the second party is better than the first, don’t mention that to your colleagues, Grenny said. And if you’re worried about leaving too early, gauge the atmosphere.

“When it comes to leaving, take your cue from the majority,” he said. “Leave when most people are leaving.”

Saying thank you: The final step

Whether you loved your holiday party or hated it, many of our experts said that expressing your gratitude about the party is a professional and polite way to acknowledge the time and money they put into the party.

Amber Hunter, an employee experience director at A Plus Benefits, said that you can leave a lasting impression on your bosses if you let them know you enjoyed yourself and appreciated the company’s efforts to plan a holiday party.

Bottomline: You spend more time with our co-workers than your family throughout the week. And, in some respect you probably become close friends or they become an extension of your family. The office holiday is a break from everyday work, where you get to meet your co-workers significant other. Have fun and don’t do anything that will make you look foolish and make everyone else uncomfortable.

About ATS

ATS offers a broad portfolio of time and attendance solutions that streamlines the collection, calculation, and reporting of employee hours for workforce management and eliminates the manual tasks of payroll preparation, increasing efficiency and reducing errors in corporate payroll departments.

Thousands of organizations across North, Central and South America and Europe- including more than half of the Fortune 500 – use ATS TimeWork OnDemand, Workforce Planning, Employee Scheduling HR and payroll solutions to manage their workforce.

In addition, ATS provides modular analytic solutions that includes; workforce planning, benefits management, employee self-service, business intelligence, human resources, payroll, and advanced analytics based on a robust cloud computing platform for information and data needs. It also offers design, rapid deployment, support services, software updates, and enhancements; and consulting and training services.

To download a demonstration of ATS TimeWorkOnDemand, or to register for a bi-monthly webinar, go to our website. And, to reach an account executive, call; 866.294.2467.

Managing overtime is not an easy task, especially if your company is using manual time cards and spreadsheets — an archaic practice at best, although, several companies still track employee hours, overtime and leave policies using these tools

Tracking overtime does not have to be that hard, especially if you are using a modern time and attendance solutions. Here are excerpts from an article, on how to manage overtime, by Rob Press for online magazine TLNT titled; 6 Ways to Minimize the Impact of the New US Overtime Rules

Simplify complex policies: Review your overtime policy, reading it through the eyes of the employees. You may find that by simplifying your policy, you could actually minimize the amount of work that you need to do to approve each request.

Complex policies were actually at the root of a recent class action in California. At some company facilities, there was a flat “no overtime” policy. At others, the policy stated that prior approval for overtime must be given by two relevant managers; something that the employees stated was an “impossible task” when they were under pressure to get the job done. Ultimately, the company agreed to settle the case for $20 million.

This really shows just how many complex stages can often be involved in overtime policies, and begs the question: Could making policies more straightforward – and consistent — not only help businesses to achieve their goals, but also help to make HR and manager workloads more manageable?

Focus on organization: To manage overtime like a boss, we need to focus on overtime specifically, right? Well, maybe not. To properly manage overtime, it’s important to look at the bigger picture.

There was a very interesting study undertaken by the US Postal Service across the Northeastern states which found that managers who failed to effectively manage unscheduled leave ended up having to deal with more overtime. According to the report, “management did not effectively manage unscheduled leave, which contributed to overtime hours.” Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Track employee hours: It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been working in HR for years or you’re just starting out in your career, you know, or will quickly discover, that employees are bad — very bad — at tracking their time. With so many other tasks that need to be prioritized, filling in timesheets often ends up at the bottom of the list.

And the problem doesn’t end there. Even when employees do try to track their time, they’re often doing it days later, which means the hours they’re putting down probably aren’t all that accurate. According to studies of memory, people quickly forget what they learn. What did you have for lunch three days ago?

Analyze: One of the most vital aspects of good overtime management is what it can tell us about workforce practices. As an HR professional, you’re not only responsible for supporting employees, but also for supporting the business, and for raising concerns that can help it improve.

One of the other advantages that an automated tracking system offers is the ability to analyze time and attendance. You can do this with paper timesheets, but it’s much harder.

Minimize overtime: Of course, the absolute best way to manage overtime is to have less of it. Ha! Easier said than done right? Well, being able to reduce overtime isn’t something that’s guaranteed, but there are a few methods that can minimize the need for extra hours.

Although there are any number of reasons for overtime, when it becomes endemic that’s often a sign there are not enough resources to complete the necessary tasks within the time given.

Managing change: Understanding how to better manage overtime is a significant part of handling the big changes that are taking place within the HR industry right now. With HR professionals expected to receive more requests for overtime payments than ever before under the new rules, now is the perfect time to look at improving internal processes and honing management skills for efficient and effective working”.

So, to summarize; proactively managing your employees’ overtime, avoiding surprises and preparing for the future can reduce your expense, protect your organization from unwanted legal action, and improve morale across the company.

ATS TimeWorkOnDemand is a best-of-best 21st century human capital management (HCM) software provides an end-to-end employee lifecycle management solution. ATS TimeWorkOnDemand Workforce Management solutions help meet your workforce needs regardless of your industry or where you do business.

Interested in learning how you can curb overtime with ATS TimeWorkOnDemand? Go to our website and take a test drive. You can also reach an account executive at 866.294.2467.


Tracking employee time with biometrics is nothing new. In fact, it has becoming ubiquitous with many companies adopting the technology as a way to streamline payroll costs and increase workforce productive. And since biometric technology, can be used for different purposes, Amazon will soon add it to their Whole Foods grocery chain as a way for customers to pay.

In a recent article by Courtney Linder for Popular Mechanics titled Why Amazon Wants to Scan Your Hands’. Here is an excerpt from the article:

https://youtu.be/-kpwiTZr53Y

“Amazon is testing out a new payment method at its New York offices: hand scanning.

Here’s how it works: Users hold their hands over a special scanner that uses computer vision and depth geometry to identify each hand’s unique shape and size, per the report. Amazon Prime customers must go into stores for their hands to be captured and linked to their account before they can begin using the payment method.

The new payment method will also help to process transactions more quickly. While a typical card transaction takes three or four seconds, Amazon’s new tech can process the charge in less than 300 milliseconds, says the report.

It’s not a new concept by any means. Hand geometry, as the biometric is called, was used to protect access to the residential Olympic Village at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

The concept of hand geometry was developed and patented in 1985, according to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. The first commercial product using the tech came out the following year, but it wasn’t widely adopted. However, many companies do use hand geometry for time and attendance purposes. Walt Disney World has used “finger geometry” for years to expedite entrance to parks, for example.

Systems that measure hand geometry use a digital camera and light to take a scan. When you use one, you simply place your hand on a flat surface and line your fingers up for an accurate reading. A camera takes several photos of your hand and the shadows that it casts. That data is used to determine the length, width, thickness, and curvature of your fingers and hand. Then, it’s translated into a numerical template through an algorithm.”

ATS biometric clocks are used in a variety of companies and industries from healthcare to food manufacturing, grocery retail, shipping & logistics, government entities and construction.  With ATS biometric time clocks, employees can clock in with a quick scan of their hand, and are instantly verified for accuracy. And, with biometric identification capabilities, “buddy punching” can be prevented to help control labour costs associated with inflated payroll.

To view a demonstration of ATS biometric time clocks or cloud computing time and attendance application, go to our website.

It wasn’t too long ago that asking your boss to work from home would likely stunt your career aspirations. And, while some companies still frown on the idea of employees working from home, there is no stopping this shift towards working remotely, a shift that has been taking place for the last several years.

Want further proof that remote work is on the rise, despite reluctance from some companies? Here are excerpts from an article, written by Valerie Bolden-Barrette for HRDive titled, Working remotely is now the norm for developers, new study shows

  • Eighty-six percent of IT developers work remotely, with almost one-third working from home full time, according to a study by DigitalOcean, a cloud-based platform. Of the more than 4,500 respondents to the study, Currents: A Seasonal Report on Developer Trends in the Cloud: Remote Work Edition, 43% said that the ability to work remotely is “a must-have” when considering a job offer.
  • Contrary to the belief that remote workers are isolated and disengaged from the workforce, 71% of respondents who work remotely said they feel connected to their organization’s community. However, the 29% of remote workers who feel isolated said they’re disengaged from their company’s culture and excluded from offline conversations with team members when working offsite. Seventy-six percent of respondents expected remote work to offer more work-life balance, but many reported working longer hours and that their work-life balance was only slightly better than their onsite colleagues.
  • Although remote work is considered the norm for developers, a plurality (47%) started working offsite between one and four years ago. The study also found that on a scale of 1-5, a flexible work schedule was “very important” to many of the respondents (44%).

Despite the above-mentioned stats that shows an upward trajectory, that more companies are adopting a remote workforce mentality-you will have to build a compelling case on the benefits of remote work if your employer does not believe it in.

Here’s some additional stats from the article; “Remote work has swiftly become a norm, especially in a tight labor market with more specialized jobs. Since 2005, the number of U.S. employees who work from home at least half the time has more than doubled, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But employers have been comparably slow in outlining how such arrangements work for their companies; a majority of employers surveyed in a 2018 Upwork study lacked any official remote work policy”.

Bottomline: There are certain jobs like payroll and HR and in some industries  that require employees to be in the office or on a job site. On the other hand, other jobs like software programing or sales can be done remotely.  In the end, if you have presented a strong business case on the reasons why you should work remotely, and it does not match with your employers’ corporate culture, it might be best, in the end, to start looking elsewhere.

To learn more about ATS and our Cloud-Based HCM Workforce Management application for mid-enterprise size organizations, go to our website.

You can also request a demonstration or register for one of our bi-monthly webinars. To reach an account executive by phone call: 866.294.2467.

Your company made it through another year together,and it’s time to let your employees relax, have some fun and enjoy themselves.And, when it’s done right, the annual Christmas party can be great opportunity for managers to get to know their employees on a personal level.

In writing for the Silicon Republic, David Bell’s article, titled How to avoid the Christmas party HR hangover  offers some, advice to HR practitioners and senior executives. Here are three takeaways from the article:

Don’t encourage binge drinking
To avoid behavioural issues, don’t encourage mass consumption of alcohol intake and don’t offer employees a free bar. This will decrease the chances of accidents, fights or issues that usually happen as a result of drinking. If needed, be prepared to tell individuals to stop drinking if they start to appear too drunk or rowdy.

Social media is a powerful tool, used for many different aspects of both personal and business life. However, it is important to remember that when your employees are posting selfies and other various photos at the office party, they are still representing your company, so brand awareness is vital.

Ensure employees use social media in a positive way
It could be a good idea to have one person act as a photographer for the night and only take appropriate photos. The next working day, everyone can choose certain photos they prefer and you could even choose a couple for company social media.

 It is highly recommended that you create a general social media policy in your workplace. Informing staff of this new disciplinary policy will make them aware of the rules and hopefully avoid any possible problems.

Be considerate to all employees
Be sensitive to the fact that some employees may not celebrate the Christmas holiday. There are some religions that don’t consume alcohol, so it’s very important to make sure there are options to cater to them. This will show your awareness and consideration of your employees, making them feel valued.

 Don’t make any promises that you can’t keep and avoid discussions about salary, promotions etc at the party. The reason for this isthat words of encouragement are sometimes misinterpreted and may cause issues in the workplace.

For most, unless the party is on a Friday night, the working week will continue the next day as normal. Despite guidance on what is considered acceptable and what is not, unfortunate events may occur or certain things may be said. In such situations, it’s important that any information given to you by employees stay anonymous, unless said otherwise.

Happy Holidays!

Keep current with ATS:

The rise of the minimum wage, new employment laws and predictive scheduling are just a few of the most recent workplace compliance that many of today’s organizations are struggling to manage. An effective time and attendance solution can be significant a time saver, while also allowing operational managers to access data in

real-time—thus, providing them with a complete picture of employee overtime and hours worked at their fingertips. Here is a quick synopsis of what you can expect from an ATS Time and Attendance solution.

How Can A Time And Attendance Solution Help Your Company With Employment Laws?

Robust and Purpose-Built
At the core of ATS Time and Attendance is a database engine that designed to handle the business requirements of every industry. With ATS time and attendance solution, employee can perform different job tasks, review overtime and shifts from by accessing the employee self-service or through one of the ATS data collectors. The Workforce Analytics dashboard is a treasure trove of data that — when mined carefully — reveals important information on forecasting and actual versus hours scheduled. It’s the difference between making decisions on gut feeling and making them based on facts.

Improved Productivity
scheduling and personal time-off requests are an important part of retaining a productive workforce. The companies that offer employees flexible work hours and also accommodate time-off requests for personal and professional needs are generally desired companies to work for.

Workforce Compliance
Does your company or industry have to deal with collective bargaining agreements, have different locations across several jurisdictions with separate labour laws? For example, unionized employees may have a maximum number of hours that they are allowed work per week or month. In other cases, corporate policy may dictate that employees cannot work more than a maximum number of hours per pay period. Whatever exceptions that are unique to your organization, ATS time and attendance solution can be configured to meet those requirements and ensure that you are in compliance. The system will accurately calculate premium hours, statutory holidays and job tracking and manage overtime.

If you are looking for ways to improve productivity in the face of rising labour costs, tight margins and competition, tracking employee time and attendance by paper, will drive costs up, not the other way around.

To learn more about ATS Time and Attendance, go to our website. You can also register for one of our bi-monthly webinars or download a demonstration. To reach ATS by phone, call 866.294.2467.

 

 

Whether you are in retail, hospitality, healthcare or an industry, generating a weekly or bi-schedule with Excel spreadsheets, it can be time consuming. This becomes even more difficult when it comes to tracking employee hours, including overtime. And, while Excel spreadsheets can be useful in some areas of business, using it for the purpose of scheduling employees especially in companies with complex and rotation shifts can be headache for supervisors.

Scheduling With Spreadsheets, Really? Who Does That Anymore?

One of the better investments an organization can make is to deploy an ATS Workforce Scheduling Solution that will help with better workforce planning, and improve overall employee productivity, and satisfaction.

ATS Workforce Scheduling Solution is purpose-built for the managers and supervisors alike, and utilizes employee working patterns and shift preferences —as a best fit, with statutory holidays and absences automatically applied. The manager is immediately notified through an alert, of schedule gaps caused by absences, holidays or workload demand, so that the appropriate action can be taken.

ATS Workforce Scheduling Solution benefits include:

  • Minimize compliance risk with consistent rules and policies
  • Accurately anticipate demand to help reduce under-staffing
  • Employees are allocated to a shift based on preference and seniority
  • Statutory holidays and absences are automatically applied
  • Actual vs. budget schedule report can be generated thus, reducing the possibility of over-staffing
  • Minimize compliance risks, while adhering to local, regional and cross continental rules and policies
  • Accurately anticipate demand based on forecast, to help reduce under-staffing

Now, can your Excel spreadsheet do all that?  Trying to guess the right number of employees you need to cover a shift or the best worker to fill an open one, commonly causes errors and complications. With Workforce Scheduling the guesswork and manual scheduling is taken out of the equation.

To download a copy of ATS Workforce Scheduling Solution or to register for one of our bi-weekly webinars, go to our website. And, to speak to an account executive, call: 866.294.2467.