How To Track Employees With GPS The Right Way

We live in the Jetson age, and the possibilities with technology are endless. GPS technology is very popular and has practical applications for companies with remote employees. GPS time clock apps ensure employee punctuality, provide accurate time cards and verify that employees are on site. While using GPS tracking as an employee management tool has benefits, one factor is your employees' privacy rights. For this reason, it's essential to consider how to track employees with GPS the right way.

Do you want to ensure that your employees are always at the job site when clocking in?

What this article covers:

• Reasons for monitoring employees
• Fairness and employee

Reasons For Monitoring Employees

Employers have a few reasons for monitoring employees in the workplace. Some of the reasons are:

• Track and increase productivity
• Prevent time theft
• Protect confidential information
• Create an accountable environment that dissuades events like sexual harassment and data breaches.

 On the flip side, employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy. 

Fairness and Employee GPS Tracking

The issue of GPS tracking employees is a 2-sided coin. On one side, you have a right to know that your remote, hourly employees are on-site and on time when on the clock. Time theft is a massive problem. On the other side, your employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy when they are off the clock. You're both right. If we can agree on these points, then the issue is how to track employees with GPS the right way. How do you implement a GPS time clock app that meets your business needs, is fair to your employees, and stays legally in bounds?

Let's first address the question of legality. The 4th Amendment protects citizens against unlawful search and seizure by the government, but it doesn't reach the private sector. Some states address the issue of tracking employees with GPS, yet it's generally agreed that small business owners can track the location of their employees with their consent and while they are on the clock.

The Chronotek Pro App - Location Tracking Intelligently Designed

Many GPS tracking software uses live breadcrumb GPS tracking. Live breadcrumb trails typically track an employee’s location at set intervals, leaving a log of times and locations for each employee throughout the work period. This can be burdensome for supervisors to keep an eye on, especially for businesses with more than a handful of employees. It also drains an employee's phone battery and uses tons of data. 

The Chronotek Pro GPS time clock app solves this problem with our proprietary location-tracking technology.  

• Asks for permission to track location upon download
• Gets a location track at clock-in
• Immediately reports if the employee is tracked at the job or not (on clock-in and clock-out)
• Reports if the employee leaves the job site while still on the clock and if they return
• Shows the locations that the employee visits while on the clock
• Reports if the employee turns off location services while on the clock
• Displays on the employee’s clock-in screen that location tracking is enabled

Employers looking to monitor employee locations from devices like smartphones have much to consider regarding privacy. Do they allow employees to use personal devices? Which type of GPS tracking is both functional and protects privacy? No matter which routes they choose to take, it’s essential for employers to develop clear policies regarding employee monitoring so that both the employer and employees understand the expectations each party holds.

The Chronotek Pro GPS time clock app is your best solution to track time and attendance for your remote employees while respecting their right to privacy. You'll also save money on labor costs.

Try it free for 14 days.