Three out of ten employees see time registration as a source of stress

A large-scale international survey by European HR service provider SD Worx shows that almost six out of ten European employees log their working hours in a time registration system.  Although a third of employees perceive compulsory time registration as a source of stress and four out of ten see it as a sign of distrust on the part of the employer, half of European employees do see the benefits it offers. Just over half (53%) firmly believe it is a crucial tool for ensuring tasks are better organised and planned as well as a means to avoid overtime. 

A recent survey conducted by SD Worx of over 5,000 companies and 18,000 employees across 18 European countries has shown that 57% of European employees use software tools to log activities ranging from executive tasks to internal meetings, consultations and brainstorming sessions on the work floor.  Employees mainly use these tools in countries such as Slovenia (83%), Austria (74%) and Spain (69%).

For four out of ten employees, time registration helps them to achieve a better work-life balance 

The benefits are clear to see for employees who use these systems. 40% of users said time registration tools help them to maintain a good work-life balance, with staff in Romania (61%), Poland (56%) and the UK (48%) leading the way. Employees in Austria (37%), Finland (32%) and Denmark (32%), however, believe the opposite is true. Furthermore, 42% said that time registration also gives them an insight into their efficiency and productivity at work, while 53% believe it is an important tool for organising and planning tasks more effectively. 

Although slightly more than half of the employees using time registration tools recognise the benefits offered by such tools, feelings remain mixed around logging hours. A third of European employees see it as a source of stress, while four out of ten employees who log their working time perceive it to be a form of distrust and a need for control on the part of the employer. 

"Employees often continue to believe that time registration is mainly about control, but it actually raises awareness about how you use your time. It helps employees to work efficiently, know what has already been done and set priorities. Having the right insight into how you use your time can help you achieve a good work-life balance. Your team also benefits from such insights, as colleagues have a joint overview of any work pressure and are able to set priorities and support each other as required", says Bruce Fecheyr-Lippens, Chief People Officer at SD Worx.

Four out of ten employees still work overtime on a regular basis

The survey also shows that four out of ten employees work overtime on a regular basis. The most common reasons given for working overtime are high work pressure (36%), having to deal with unexpected issues that require additional effort (33%), or a lack of personnel or resources (32%). Having to meet tight deadlines (23%) is also listed among the reasons for working extra hours. In total, 43% said they log their working times to avoid working overtime, while doing so also helps to ensure their workload is better organised and planned.