Outsourcing Your Payroll Saves You Money and Time

Most importantly, it provides an unbiased record of your employees’ activities, which prevents discrepancies, hard feelings and even legal action. Dole Food Co. is learning that lesson the hard way as it is now in litigation with a former Salinas employee. The claim alleges that employees are required to come in before work and leave late to go through an extensive process to put on protective gear and sanitize themselves and their equipment. The claim alleges that the employees are not paid for this time and also have had their breaks affected by this unpaid process.

A spokesman for Dole stated that the company “follows all state rules and regulations as far as workers and workers’ rights” but would not comment further due to the pending litigation. The employee, Jose L. Hernandez, is seeking compensation for himself and for other employees to cover overtime, break periods and all legal fees. The claim also alleges that these practices are widespread over Dole’s many facilities.

Speaking for the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, vice president of policy Abby Taylor-Silva stated that laws passed over the past two decades have increased the amount of gear workers are required to wear to protect themselves as well as the consumer from pathogens and biohazards. Most of these regulations have come from the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, and these governing bodies as well as employers aim to protect employees and consumers well above regulations.

While Hernandez was not available for comment, his claim is drawing a lot of negative attention to Dole, and even should the company be successful in staving off this suit, its reputation will no doubt be colored for years to come. The lesson here is a powerful one: Electronic records of employee activities are a vital part of business. Electronic records allow no room for human error, and they provide a clear, unbiased log of when employees clock in, clock out and go on break. Using individualized human metrics, they also cannot be falsified, which protects both employees and employers.

The bottom line is that you have a business to run; why spend your time tracking movement? Focus on the product you provide, and let someone else manage the time clock. Don’t let your business’s reputation be threatened by a few minutes, and consider outsourcing your record keeping tasks today.

Contact Pinnacle Payroll Solutions Today 800-925-7701

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