VCS Blog

Opinions vary greatly on the benefits that HR resources bring to a company’s bottom line. Today’s competitive landscape demands definitive proof that HR contributes a measurable value to organizational growth and profitability.

Reduction in operating and labor costs can be effectively accomplished today with the implementation of a workforce management solution. Manage costs effectively with accurate calculations of employee work hours according to your business, union and HR rules that literally take one-third of the time it tacks to complete manually. Create electronic timesheets that can be easily sent to payroll reducing if not eliminating countless payroll processing errors inherent in manual run systems. Manage and reduce overtime costs with automatically generated employee lists that are based on skill sets to ensure that the right people are covering the right positions at the right time.

The U.S. Department of Labor has recently proposed a rule change that would make millions of new employees eligible for overtime pay. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), miscalculating overtime pay can lead to significant penalties for businesses today. The Department of Labor aims to update the salary level required for exemption to "ensure that FLSA's intended overtime protections are fully implemented, and to simplify the identification of nonexempt employees," making employee exemption easier for employers and workers to understand and apply (Source). Essentially, if hours aren't accurately paid, the result can be excessive fines and penalties imposed on your business. Read further for a better understanding of the rule changes associated with these new overtime regulations.

Employees want flexibility and employers want productivity but there are many ways to achieve both those elements within today’s workforce. A flexible workforce can reap invaluable benefits within your business but the challenge can be implementing a successful balance between the two key objectives. This article offers insights on the proper tools you can use today to achieve a flexible workforce that enhances employee morale and boosts productivity.

Businesses today seek loyal employees who will work hard and always put their best foot forward. Retaining these employees will lead to overall growth and success when combined with the very distinctive qualities and motivational elements inherent in an effective workforce. This article discusses the elements that are critical to the successful creation of a strong and sustaining workforce.

Proactivity is the key in managing one’s workforce scheduling processes. Ensuring that you are always scheduling the right employees to work the right positions at the right times is paramount for any manager. A schedule needs to be determined before a shift starts, not configured during the shift. This simple paradigm shift of practicing proactive (instead of reactive) scheduling saves organizations tens of thousands of dollars by reducing overtime, fairly awarding extra duty, minimizing grievances, and cutting payroll processing time in half.

Shift bidding, the process of allowing employees to bid on shifts, is of the most effective components of a proactive scheduling philosophy. Businesses that practice shift bidding allow employees to view available shifts and rank those shifts in order of priority selection.

Biometric time clocks are a savior for fledgling HR departments attempting to use traditional punch or card swipe time clocks to accurately track their employees’ hours. Employees can punch in and out for work using a unique physical characteristic like a fingerprint. The technology stands in stark contrast to traditional systems, making it near impossible for buddy-punching to survive, and nearly eliminating the potential for fraud. The benefits aren’t exclusive to employers, though. Employees won’t have to worry about remembering a code or losing a swipe card, rather, they simply must scan their fingerprint or other feature into the system and they are ready to begin work. Despite the various benefits for both employers and employees, skepticism remains concerning the use of biometric employee time clocks. Most of this fear is rooted in misinformation, or a lack of understanding. So we have compiled a brief list of the most damaging myths concerning biometric time clock technology, as we attempt to debunk them and improve your workforce.

Productivity is the muscle of your organization's success. So what is the key to improving productivity in the workplace? Maintain high levels of commitment and strong work ethic by offering a pleasant workforce. A small business has fewer employees, which means teamwork and communication with one another is vital for success. This article discusses tips to advance your small business by achieving strong and consistent productivity.

Meetings can be both constructive and productive if combined with the right resources. Whether scheduling a small get-together with employees or conducting a corporate planning session, strategizing the process will ensure success. This article discusses effective strategies for conducting constructive meetings that produce results.