Timesheet: Challenges And Strategies For Managers
The timesheet is a key tool in project management, since it facilitates time management, an essential element in all businesses.
It’s important to be able to track the time employees spend at work, as well as the billable hours allocated to tasks and other activities. This helps to ensure that the work is done and that employees are productive.
While not always easy to manage, there are several strategies managers should know about to optimize timesheet management.
The Importance Of The Timesheet In Project Management
Time tracking is an integral part of managing any project. It provides managers with an accurate picture of time spent on tasks and projects. It is this portrait that makes it possible to plan and allocate the necessary resources for the accomplishment of said projects and tasks.
Without a timesheet, it would be difficult to track progress, set deadlines, and maintain accountability for employees or collaborators involved in a project. The timesheet also allows you to analyze the actual time allocated to certain tasks. This allows managers to identify areas where time could have been better managed.
Keeping Track of Time Brings Many Advantages
Here are the main advantages that time tracking can bring:
- Better time management;
- Improved team collaboration;
- Increased efficiency in performing tasks;
- More accurate budget forecasting and invoicing;
- Increased visibility on time allocation and project progress;
- Simplified communication between employees and managers;
- Better identification of the areas to improve or optimize;
- Easier labor cost tracking.
That’s on condition that employees fill out their timesheets!
Timesheet Management, An Irritant For Managers
With approving, collecting, and employees forgetting to submit their hours, timesheets sometimes become major irritants for managers.
This is often due to the tedious input and adjustment process; not to mention verifying the accuracy of each timesheet.
This is a necessary evil, however, since without effective time tracking, it is impossible for managers to accurately forecast the timelines and costs associated with their projects. This could result in late deliveries, lost profits, missed deadlines, and team frustrations.
Our Management Software Can Help You
Abak simplifies the time management process by allowing timesheet management, online, through an intuitive interface.
Time management and tracking finally becomes simpler and more efficient. Overtime is better tracked and leave management is easier.
Our timesheet management software also provides managers with a management solution that greatly facilitates the process. Thanks to the latter, they get an overview of the real time spent on the project. They can also proceed to the creation of useful reports for their project management.
A Solution Designed for your Teams
This application is so easy to use that it even allows employees to manage their vacations and sick days, without involving human resources. So, there are no more surprises when it comes to payroll because it’s easy for everyone to see their sick hours, vacation days, and accrued leave.
At Abak, time bank management is an aspect to which each client has access. If you want to know more about this feature, don’t wait and contact us today!
Five Ways to Motivate Your Employees To Their Timesheets
If you are one of the managers who struggles to have your employees complete their timesheets, know that there are solutions! Above all, make sure that the following elements are respected:
- Entering working hours should be as easy and intuitive as possible – using software like Abak can help with that;
- Your employees should be able to easily view their working hours, as well as those they have entered in their timesheet;
- Time entry should be flexible, as employees may express different needs;
- Employees should receive training teaching them how to complete their timesheets correctly – this is also the time to explain to them why this is so important;
- Reminders should be sent to your employees so that they do not forget to enter their hours.
If everything is in place and managing timesheets remains difficult, there are other tips that could help you encourage your team members to track their time productively.
1. The Hard Line
While it may be the most effective method in some cases, the strict approach to time management may also cause resentment among your employees. They may feel like they are over-policed or micro-managed. This approach can sometimes lead to a lack of autonomy and confidence.
2. Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a time management technique that rewards employees for filling out their timesheets correctly. It can be a verbal compliment or more tangible rewards, such as gift cards. With this approach, team members get a sense of satisfaction from submitting compliant timesheets. However, there are costs to consider if you choose certain types of rewards.
3. The Pain in the Neck
This approach is similar to hardline but with a softer twist. It involves reminding team members of their obligations in a gentler way. This can be done by sending them emails, or by leaving small messages on their desktop. The goal is to remind them of their timesheet responsibilities, without being too punitive.
4. The Play
One approach to time management seen in few organizations is to offer a price for the first timesheet submitted each week. While this tactic can be effective in motivating some employees, it has a few downsides that shouldn’t be overlooked.
The main problem with this approach is that it encourages the submission of timesheets as a game. Some employees may then submit an inaccurate timesheet with the sole purpose of “winning” the prize.
5. Social Pressure
To encourage time management, it can be helpful to create a sense of responsibility among team members.
When a team submits their timesheet, it must be a collective effort. Each team member is responsible for submitting their timesheet and ensuring its accuracy.
One of the main drawbacks to using this approach is that it can become a source of conflict. If a team member refuses to participate, they risk being left out and this can lead to resentment.
