Biometric technology is one of the most accurate means of employee time management due to its ability to identify a person by analyzing his or her unique physiological characteristics. Time and attendance terminals that use biometrics technology are becoming more and more popular for this reason alone, as well as for the many additional benefits they offng an employee’s individual fingerprint. This helps ensure that other workers are not able to clock in and out for each other, thus aiding in the prevention of time theft.
Using a biometric fingerprint system is easy. Employees simply place their finger on the time clock scanner. Sophisticated software then converts this image into encrypted numerical data, which is matched with stored record to identify the individual and allow the person to check into or out of work.
How the Optical Scanner Reads Fingerprints
The fingerprint scanner system has two primary functions: to initially record and encrypt the image of a person’s fingerprint and to then match future scans to this data to identify the employee. It is important to note that the actual fingerprint images are never saved, only a binary code (which is a set of numbers), is saved and used for verification purposes. The algorithm that is used by these systems is not able to be reconverted back into an image, which means that no one will ever be able to duplicate or steal someone’s fingerprints.
Cleanliness and Privacy Concerns
As previously indicated, biometric fingerprint time clocks will not store any type of information about an employee’s actual fingerprint. Instead, it assigns a mathematical representation of each employee’s biometric data. This makes it virtually impossible to duplicate the original image and also eliminates the chance of time theft such as buddy punching.
If your employees are concerned about the cleanliness of the machine, it is not one you should dismiss, but rather address. Assure employees that the finger zone on the time clock is not a hot bed for germs; in fact, it is touched much less than chairs in common areas, restroom door handles and even the coffee pot.
Due to their ease of use and benefits, biometric fingerprint time clocks are becoming more widely used than ever before. They help many businesses reduce instances of time theft since employees are no longer able to clock in and out for each other, and they instill an element of accountability among employees.
