A hand clock, also known as a punch clock, records employee commute times via a punch card or digital barcode to track hours worked and avoid costly mistakes. The manual watch requires users to push a button or pull a lever, while modern systems use biometric data. The clock is ideal for small businesses, but electronic options are becoming more popular.
Sometimes called a punch clock, a hand clock is a device that records employee commute times via a punch card inserted into the device at specific times. This allows employers to track hours worked and keep accurate records for wage or legal purposes, avoiding potentially costly mistakes. Some modern systems are computerized and use digital barcodes, magnetic cards, or even biometric data to capture information as an employee comes and goes.
The manual watch incorporates a timekeeping device and a punch or stamp that marks a card inserted into a slot under the face of the watch. They require users to push a button or pull a lever on the top or side of the unit to enable the punch. Paper time-papers with spaces for each punch are assigned to each employee. The watch either cuts a piece of paper out of the designated area, which may already be marked with a time and date, or prints that information on the card itself.
Businesses can purchase a manual clock from manufacturers who also supply them with accessories such as card holders to keep the cards neatly next to the clock, the cards themselves, and ink ribbons for the date and time units. The clock requires a key to open it and change the setting, which is usually held by management or a member of the company’s human resources department. It is typically mounted on the wall or on a shelf near where employees enter or exit the facility.
Tracking actual work time helps businesses save money. Before the manual clock was invented in 1888 by Willard Bundy, a New York jeweler, watchmen had to add time by hand. This has often resulted in errors due to overestimating or underestimating employee compensation. A manual clock is ideal for a small business with fewer employees, as the cost is minimal and it is easy to use.
With any watch there is still the potential for error, if the watch is not calibrated correctly or if employees engage in dishonest practices. Overstamping, where one time is imprinted on top of another, obscuring it, also makes manual watch punch cards difficult to tabulate. Some companies are moving towards electronic options for timing. Sometimes plastic cards with digital barcodes, magnetic stripes, and radio frequency identification (RFID) are issued to employees, allowing them to swipe in and out of time. Some companies with high security needs can use biometric units containing fingerprints or eye readers, combining access control with timekeeping.
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