Need Suggestions on Time Clock / Attendance Setup

[TwiceOver]

So management decided that we need to start tracking people's attendance. I don't really care, but if they want to blow the money in this economy then more power to them.

Wondering if ATOT has any suggestions for a time clock system for small business with hopefully the following:

30-50 employees
Swipe card and/or pin
PC Communications
RJ-45 connection (I'll find the power POE not necessary)
3 Terminals
W/ an In/Out board (This is kinda key to the whole project)
Under $3000 (The accountant said $6000, I think she's looney)
Any suggestions?

What I have looked at:

Icon RTC-1000: Seems good, not sure about the In/Out board that I was hoping for.
NovaTime 1000: Should work and has an In/Out board I think. Price is kinda spendy since the RJ-45 is an add in module.

 

[BoomerD]

Do you want an old-style "punch-in, punch-out" time clock with time cards for each employee? Those should be easy to find.

If you want an electronic-type that reads swipe cards, those also should be easy to find...but quite a bit more expensive, especially since you'll have to invest in the equipment to generate the cards.

Does everyone use a computer? If so, there should be system software that they can log in/out with.

 

[TwiceOver]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Do you want an old-style "punch-in, punch-out" time clock with time cards for each employee? Those should be easy to find.

If you want an electronic-type that reads swipe cards, those also should be easy to find...but quite a bit more expensive, especially since you'll have to invest in the equipment to generate the cards.

Does everyone use a computer? If so, there should be system software that they can log in/out with.

I've found a couple systems that you can buy with generic cards such as the RTC-1000.

I don't want punches from the computer. That would allow anyone to remote in and punch in even though they are not actually here. I suppose I could block that with some firewall rules, but an actual system would be preferable.

 

[AreaCode707]

PM Zenmervolt. I think he worked on a project like this at one of our former companies.

 

[acheron]

Make sure you let everyone in the company know that you're planning this, so they can start getting their resumes ready to look for a job where the management treats them like adults.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: acheron
Make sure you let everyone in the company know that you're planning this, so they can start getting their resumes ready to look for a job where the management continues to treat them like spoiled brats.

Fixed that for ya.


MOST of the world lives by time clocks...why do office people think they're special?

 

[Uhtrinity]

I setup Punchclock 2005 at our K-8 school and have had very few issues.

Duoserve

It cost us roughly $120 one time, can be used for unlimited employees and is sold on a per computer license model. I run it on 2003 server, the employees access it via a WinXP machine in the breakroom.

We are considering updating to a newer version, but will have to pay for an upgrade license.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: acheron
Make sure you let everyone in the company know that you're planning this, so they can start getting their resumes ready to look for a job where the management treats them like adults.

:roll:

 

[Ns1]

We used to audit a company called "Amano".

Their facilities are top notch and their higher end time clock stuff is pretty good.

 

[JakwoW]

Might look into Kronos.

Might be a bit overkill, but the workforce central suite is highly configurable.

 

[TwiceOver]

Originally posted by: acheron
Make sure you let everyone in the company know that you're planning this, so they can start getting their resumes ready to look for a job where the management treats them like adults.

Whoa whoa whoa... Chill out buddy. See the thing is this makes keeping track of things much simpler. I would wager a guess that on a daily basis I see anywhere from 10 - 20 "Late Lunch" "Leaving at 3" "Won't be in today" emails. DAILY. In order to be treated like an adult, they need to start acting like one.

 

[Homerboy]

http://www.timeclockplus.com/default.aspx

deployed this in a previous life and worked like a charm. Does A LOT more than just attendance too.

 

[TwiceOver]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
http://www.timeclockplus.com/default.aspx

deployed this in a previous life and worked like a charm. Does A LOT more than just attendance too.

$7300... But it does damn near everything you can think of.

Bump for another day.

 

[Homerboy]

wow really that much? I know it was way cheaper when we deployed it. Was more ala carte too

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Do you want an old-style "punch-in, punch-out" time clock with time cards for each employee? Those should be easy to find.

If you want an electronic-type that reads swipe cards, those also should be easy to find...but quite a bit more expensive, especially since you'll have to invest in the equipment to generate the cards.

Does everyone use a computer? If so, there should be system software that they can log in/out with.

I've found a couple systems that you can buy with generic cards such as the RTC-1000.

I don't want punches from the computer. That would allow anyone to remote in and punch in even though they are not actually here. I suppose I could block that with some firewall rules, but an actual system would be preferable.

Are you actually worried about that?

 

[TwiceOver]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83

Originally posted by: TwiceOver

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Do you want an old-style "punch-in, punch-out" time clock with time cards for each employee? Those should be easy to find.

If you want an electronic-type that reads swipe cards, those also should be easy to find...but quite a bit more expensive, especially since you'll have to invest in the equipment to generate the cards.

Does everyone use a computer? If so, there should be system software that they can log in/out with.

I've found a couple systems that you can buy with generic cards such as the RTC-1000.

I don't want punches from the computer. That would allow anyone to remote in and punch in even though they are not actually here. I suppose I could block that with some firewall rules, but an actual system would be preferable.

Are you actually worried about that?

Yes. Though systems like the one BoomerD mentioned records the desktop name including remote client name. But again... $7300

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver

Originally posted by: manlymatt83

Originally posted by: TwiceOver

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Do you want an old-style "punch-in, punch-out" time clock with time cards for each employee? Those should be easy to find.

If you want an electronic-type that reads swipe cards, those also should be easy to find...but quite a bit more expensive, especially since you'll have to invest in the equipment to generate the cards.

Does everyone use a computer? If so, there should be system software that they can log in/out with.

I've found a couple systems that you can buy with generic cards such as the RTC-1000.

I don't want punches from the computer. That would allow anyone to remote in and punch in even though they are not actually here. I suppose I could block that with some firewall rules, but an actual system would be preferable.

Are you actually worried about that?

Yes. Though systems like the one BoomerD mentioned records the desktop name including remote client name. But again... $7300

I think the accountant's estimate is going to likely be more realistic than yours.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: JakwoW
Might look into Kronos.

Might be a bit overkill, but the workforce central suite is highly configurable.

Don't even think about Kronos. I've worked for two companies who used it and managing the system was totally fubarred.

 

[NesuD]

TimeclockMTS is what we used. It's pretty cheap. All you need is 3 old pc's that aren't good for much and something to run SQLexpress on. Disable remote desktop connections on the old pcs being used as terminals to prevent the remote clock punches along with an appropriate local policy so they can't mess with your setup and you should be good to go. We did ours for just a few hundred dollars. no swipe cards needed. only potential problem would be if they had someone else clock in for them by giving them their pin but they could do something similar with a swipe card to. It is compatible with barcode or magnetic card readers as well if you are inclined to use those.

 

[PHiuR]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: JakwoW
Might look into Kronos.

Might be a bit overkill, but the workforce central suite is highly configurable.

Don't even think about Kronos. I've worked for two companies who used it and managing the system was totally fubarred.

my university uses kronos and as an employee it's simple and works as it should.

i don't know of the managing side though.


with that said.. if you want to go low budget, you can just buy a $300 dell and run a time clock software on it.

 

[pontifex]

we used novatime at our last job before switching to kronos. novatime seemed to work pretty well. we used the 3000 version with hand readers though. those hand readers were like $2500 a piece though.

 

[dmw16]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: acheron
Make sure you let everyone in the company know that you're planning this, so they can start getting their resumes ready to look for a job where the management continues to treat them like spoiled brats.

Fixed that for ya.


MOST of the world lives by time clocks...why do office people think they're special?

I disagree. I think part of being a salaried employee (and a professional) is knowing what you need to do and being responsible enough to get it done. You don't need someone making sure you are in and out at a certain time.

 

[Kntx]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: acheron
Make sure you let everyone in the company know that you're planning this, so they can start getting their resumes ready to look for a job where the management continues to treat them like spoiled brats.

Fixed that for ya.


MOST of the world lives by time clocks...why do office people think they're special?

Because when I get in a funk I go on Italian strike!

 

[skyking]

Edit: I promise to read the OP next time
If you are looking for a timeclock type of device, take a look at Icon time systems.
http://www.icontime.com/index.asp

I have that deployed at three locations for two clients. It works OK, not too fancy but it will integrate with quickbooks. One client has 150 employees on it and had to get the upgraded license. Both of the systems were purchased from costco stores, they often have it on the shelf.