Step 1 Outlook Web App.  Step 2 Time Tracking software.

I’m not quite sure why companies adopt time tracking software.  A friend mentioned that he thought there was some accounting treatment that encouraged it but some web searching has only lead me to BS statements like these.

“Time is money, so once it is clear where employees are spending their time, an employer can decide how to better prepare and deal with projects.”

“With a distributed company it ensures that everyone is working.”

Yes, entering eights into boxes ensures that I’m working.  Apparently if the time tracking interface is as cumbersome as possible someone can be extra sure that I’m hard at work.

Now, HR people tend to be extremely nice and well-meaning, perhaps this makes them especially susceptible to the sales pitch of time tracking companies. I understand if a company has part-time employees, or is billing hours to clients; then tracking those hours can make sense. For salaried employees who are otherwise being treated as adults, it’s a gigantic waste of time. Particularly if the software requires a training meeting.

Which leads to TODAY’S CHALLENGE.