Superior workforce management with workforce analytics

“In today’s volatile economy, companies are looking for new ways to do more with less and seek out efficiencies from their existing processes.”

Superior workforce management with workforce analytics

Traditionally information collected by workforce management systems served to assist the pay office in automating the payroll processing function. However accurate time and attendance data can be utilised to drive efficiencies across different areas of an organisation.
 

Automated time and attendance produces live reports with accurate, real-time data and analytics that can provide management with a better insight into their workforce. With this information at their disposal, they can identify potential problem areas, and take immediate action to resolve them before they have an adverse affect on operations.

Integration with other core business IT applications such as ERP, Outlook Email, Payroll, HR, and point of sale systems, further extend the use of workforce management information and corporate investment in IT systems.

Business areas where time and attendance information is proving to be particularly beneficial are job and labour costing, absence management, workplace health and safety and fatigue management.

The emergence of improved biometric data capture devices and the rapid growth of smart mobile technologies have also extended the reach of workforce time and attendance tracking, enabling organisations to effectively monitor employee activity and performance data regardless of where their teams are physically located.

No longer limited to payroll processing, this information is now being utilised to gain greater operational efficiencies, facilitate WHS and fatigue management initiatives, and plan production cycles and cost projects.

Celebrating Workplace Diversity with A Taste of Harmony

With one in four workers coming from overseas, there has never been a more important time to acknowledge and celebrate Australia's diverse workforce. A Taste of Harmony is an annual event that provides Australian workplaces with the opportunity to celebrate the diversity within their organisation. 

This year A Taste of Harmony runs during the week of March 17 – 24. 

As part of the event, workplaces are asked to register and then organise a lunch or afternoon/morning tea and encourage staff to bring a dish that represents their cultural background. Workers are also encouraged to share stories of their cultural background. 

“The team at Mitrefinch Australia consists of a number of cultures including The Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Korea, Fiji, the UK and Ireland, as well as some token Aussies. A Taste of Harmony provides us with a perfect opportunity to come together and learn a little more about where our co-workers come from while enjoying an array of different national dishes.” 

To find out more about Taste of Harmony or to register your organisation visit - http://www.tasteofharmony.org.au

Mitrefinch Time and Attendance Systems up for Innovation in Business Award

The Mitrefinch team are pleased to be representing the South West Sydney region in two categories at the upcoming NSW Business Chamber Awards which celebrate and recognise business excellence across the state. 

As winners of the Innovation in Business and Young Business Executive Awards at the regional South West Sydney Chamber Awards back in September, Mitrefinch will contest these categories at the overall State Business Awards gala dinner which take place on Friday November 29th at Sydney’s Technology Park.

Our Innovation in Business entry focuses on the ongoing development of our workforce time and attendance solutions; to include smart mobile and web applications, as well as the integration of leading-edge Lumidigm multi-spectral imaging technology for accurate employee data collection. 

While Marketing Manager, Jamie Fitzsimons, is in the running for the Young Business Executive title. 

“Simply been nominated as a finalist has provided us with a fantastic opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments to date and feel proud of what we have achieved as a team, especially as we celebrate our ten year anniversary in Australia this month” said Ms Fitzsimons. 

“We attribute much of our success to the users of our time and attendance and workforce management systems who are a driving force for continued innovation and product development within our business.” 

Tickets for the State Business Awards can be purchased direct for the NSW Business Chamber - http://www.businessannualawards.com.au

Are your staff going home on time?

Do you find yourself staying late at work more than you'd like or does your Smart Phone mean you are constantly connected to the office? 

Well it turns out you aren’t the only one with Australians working on average 7 hours overtime each week, and this unpaid overtime equates to $109.6 billion or 7.4 per cent of GDP. 

It has been well documented that a poor work and life balance has a direct impact on our health, relationships and workplace. A recent report out of the UK found that one in five employees had taken a day off sick because they could not cope with the pressure of going into work, with most citing excessive workload and/or long hours as the most significant causes of stress in the workplace. 

Now in its fifth year, Go Home on Time Day (Wednesday 20 November) is an annual initiative of The Australia Institute, in partnership with beyondblue. The Day is a light-hearted way to start a serious conversation about work-life balance - and we are keen supporters of the cause!

As a provider of automated Workforce Management systems, we are often asked about the value of tracking employee time and attendance data when an organisation only has salaried staff on the books. 

In our opinion, if you don't measure it you can't manage it. By having all staff clock in and out of work, managers and supervisors can easily identify just how much unpaid overtime their team members are putting in, and if there is a particular pattern forming. 

What's more, if your employees have to frequently work extra hours, workplace health and safety may be jeopardised through increased fatigue, potentially leading to a workplace accident and subsequent legal action. 

Armed with this information you may be able to justify hiring additional staff or bringing in contract labour at times of increased activity, or at the very least acknowledge the effort being put in by your team - perhaps introducing a Time in Lieu scheme or incentives for those that are working longer hours. 

In the long run, this will ultimately benefit your business as a motivated and happy workforce generally means increased productivity. 

To find out more or get your organisation involved in Go Home on Time Day see: http://www.gohomeontimeday.org.au/

2013 Australian Payroll Benchmarking Report

The 2013 Australian Payroll Association Benchmarking Survey is now open and we encourage all our readers to get involved.

By collecting and analysing payroll data and publishing benchmarks, the survey and subsequent report aims to assist participants in understanding how they compare with other businesses within their particular industry, as well as across many other sectors, whether they are top performers and where improvements might be found.

All participants will receive a complimentary copy of the report when it is launched in January 2014.

The report is unique as it is the only survey of its kind in Australia that specifically relates to the costs and efficiencies of the payroll operation.

Complete the survey here before 22 November.

In addition, feel free to pass on to other colleagues or peers that may be interested in getting involved.

2013 Australian Payroll Association Benchmarking Survey is now open