Employers are always looking to ensure that employees are productive. Tracking billable hours is one of the main ways that attorneys remain accountable for their time. That may not be the only means for keeping tabs on employees. As the Toronto Star reports, one law firm is turning to technology to track when attorneys and staff go in and out of the office. And you thought your law firm was tough.
Security or Something Else?
According to the report, the law firm of McCague Borlack LLP in Toronto has a new security system that will require attorneys and staff to clock in and out by swiping their finger, which will use fingerprint scanning technology to monitor when employees enter and leave the firm. Apparently, certain attorneys that spend a significant amount of time with clients will be exempt from this requirement.
So much for sneaking in late or leaving early.
Ostensibly, the new system will improve building security, but the firm sees a huge benefit in being able to track how many hours its employees are working, says the piece.
The finger scanning machines are supplied by Qqest, Inc., a company based in Utah. Fingerprinting scanning systems, also known as biometric time clocks, are available from a multitude of companies, and their use is on the rise.
Big Brother Is Watching...
Does the thought of this send chills down your spine? A little too Big Brother-esque?
Well, you're not alone. It seems the grand plan does not sit well with some of the staff at McCague Borlack LLP. A group of secretaries has started a blog called the Finger Campaign, says the Star.
One post says: "The firm wants greater control and 'productivity enhancement' - with the cost to be paid by workers' dignity. This program unjustly smells bad."
Is the practice legal? Apparently in Canada, there are no laws on the books to prevent employers from requiring the use of fingerprinting to track time in and out.
Here in the U.S., there does not appear to be any federal laws barring the practice although some states have taken steps to curtail certain aspects. For example, Illinois passed the Biometric Information Privacy Act. This legislation restricts biometric data storage and mandates that private entities inform people in writing prior to collection, and obtain a written release. However, this legislation is limited to the parameters for storage of the information and implementing the program, and does not necessarily prevent use of biometric time clocks.
Conclusion
What does this mean for employees? The future is here and it does not look pretty.
Perhaps however, employers will think twice about implementing a plan such as McCague's. Certainly, technological advances can improve the accuracy of time reporting. But at what cost? The morale of your workforce? Maybe to some employers the tradeoff is worth it. One would hope there are less intrusive ways to improve attendance and productivity.