This past week I had the honor of representing Benetech at the CRHRA Conference at the Empire Plaza here in Albany NY. It was a great experience from the friendly attendees to the great speakers. However, as an employee of Benetech, I wasn’t there to listen to the speeches (even though I thoroughly enjoyed both), I was there to listen to the professionals who attended and came to me to learn more about Benetech’s offer. Even those people who just wanted to throw their card in the wine raffle were nice enough to entertain my questions.

Here’s where I address the title

From all the problems I heard from various Personnel managers one thing kept coming up, paperwork! *shiver* One of the biggest hurdles for HR professionals is the insurmountable piles of paper work needed to achieve the simplest of daily processes. As I spoke to these over tasked and under staffed professionals I couldn’t help but think of the benefits of a software solution, more importantly the employee self-service available.

Reducing Overtime Cost

1) When it comes to payroll errors happen, it’s a reality of life, but there are ways to reduce them. Between the multiple databases, filing cabinets, and employee memories, punches can be recorded incorrectly which leads to high overtime costs. Reducing overtime costs caused by this is as simple as implementing an employee self-service system. In this system employees will punch in when they arrive and punch out when they leave, with punches for lunches or department changes being all on the same screen, and there’s your timekeeping record, no seriously, it’s that easy. The systems record the exact time employees click the punch button, no more trying to remember exact what time you showed up or left and more time you don’t have to spend entering punches.

Related Blog: Reducing Overtime Costs in the Municipal Workforce By Accurately Tracking Employee Time

Increasing Employee Awareness

2) Another bonus to employee self-service is an increase in employee awareness. When it comes to processes such as electing benefits, or updating their direct deposit employees often just go to their supervisor and ask them to do it. This adds a disconnection for employees to their elections, I spoke with HR professionals who have countless employees who have little to no idea what their benefit plans entail, some not even knowing what coverage they have. Employees who use a self-service system have the ability to pull up their coverage plans and even apply for a change in coverage during a life changing event. On average our customers using employee self-service reduced the time it takes for their open enrollment by more than half! Just another way you can save some time for answering questions throughout the day.

Related INFOGRAPHIC: What’s the Real Cost of Poor Employee Leave Management?

 The Result

3) I have mentioned saving time a lot in this blog and you might ask “well Jim with all this new found time what will I do?!” The answer is easy, the most important part of your jobs, helping your employees with the things they can’t solve by clicking a button, you’ll have time for people work, not paperwork.