November 27th, 2024

For many, the festive season means spending quality time with loved ones, making it a stressful period for businesses when scheduling shifts. A poorly planned Christmas rota can lead to shits not being filled, conflicts, absenteeism and overwhelming stress.

July 25th, 2024

Clocking-in systems are among the various tools that can be deployed to improve workplace culture. Traditionally used for time tracking, these systems have evolved to offer numerous benefits that extend beyond recording attendance.

June 28th, 2024

With technological advancements and the increasing emphasis on sustainability, many businesses are exploring ways to eliminate paper usage and transition to digital workflows.

May 31st, 2024

Fire safety is not just a necessary aspect, but a critical one, of managing any business. Regardless of the size or type of business, the potential risks of not ensuring the safety of personnel and property from fire hazards are alarming. A robust fire safety plan is your best defence against these risks.

April 26th, 2024

Stress within the workplace is an increasingly common challenge that can affect productivity, mental health and overall quality of life. As April is Stress Awareness Month, it's the perfect time to explore the top 10 causes of stress at work.

March 25th, 2024

This guide explores effective strategies to improve employee engagement, including clear communication, meaningful recognition, professional development opportunities and a strong emphasis on work-life balance. By implementing these practices, businesses can create a more motivated, committed and enthusiastic team ready to contribute their best to achieve goals.

February 26th, 2024

In today's fast-paced world, taking time off work is crucial for our mental and physical well-being. However, detaching from work responsibilities, even briefly, can cause a sense of unease known as 'absence anxiety'.

January 29th, 2024

In today's fast-paced business environment, efficient time and attendance management is crucial for the operational success of any organisation. Cloud based time and attendance solutions simplify tracking employee hours, enhance accuracy, improve compliance with regulations and provide valuable insights into labour patterns for decision-making.

December 28th, 2023

The working world is rapidly changing, with traditional concepts like the strict nine-to-five workday left in the past. Driven by technological advancements, work boundaries have expanded beyond conventional office spaces, offering flexibility in where and how we work.

November 24th, 2023

In today's fast-paced business landscape, efficient time and attendance management is crucial for businesses of all sizes. To help with this, time and attendance solutions can aid workforce management with critical tasks, from managing employee hours to ensuring compliance with labour laws.

October 30th, 2023

Time and attendance systems, once merely punch clocks on a company wall, have evolved into sophisticated digital solutions that play an integral role in streamlining operations and ensuring workforce productivity. These systems not only monitor working hours and breaks but also bring forth various features that integrate seamlessly into diverse business operations.

August 25th, 2023

In today's digital age, managing time efficiently has become more crucial than ever for businesses of all sizes. As companies strive to maximise productivity and ensure tasks are completed promptly, the need for advanced tools to monitor work hours and project progress is paramount. This article explores the many benefits time tracking software offers to overcome common workplace challenges.

August 14th, 2023

In our fast-paced world, productivity is crucial for every organisation's success. Through technological innovation, these automated time and attendance systems not only keep track of when employees are working but also provide insights into a more efficient approach to workforce management.

June 29th, 2023

Managing summer holiday requests can be challenging for management as they strive to balance employee satisfaction with the business’s operational needs. By implementing a transparent holiday request policy and encouraging early planning and communication, management can establish a structured framework for managing annual leave during the summer. This article will explore some ideas for managing

May 23rd, 2023

Companies across the UK are recognising the importance of having a flexible working culture. In an era where technology continuously evolves, embracing a flexible work-life balance has become essential to attract and retain highly-skilled and talented employees. This article explores critical insights and actionable steps to cultivate a flexible working culture within a company, from […]

April 27th, 2023

Effective overtime management is crucial for businesses to maintain high productivity and employee morale. Managing overtime can be challenging, but with the right strategies, companies can avoid burnout and maximise productivity while keeping employees engaged and motivated. This article will explore some overtime management ideas that can boost productivity and morale in the workplace. But […]

March 24th, 2023

Planned and unplanned absences are long-recognised problems that affect an organisation and all its members and stakeholders. They can include full-day absences, lateness, early departure and extended breaks. In the U.K., the Office of National Statistics reported in a sickness absence report that ‘149.3 million working days were lost because of sickness or injury in […]

February 22nd, 2023

Employers and employees have an entwined relationship with time spent at work. We all know that numerous absent workers equate to an unproductive workforce. But, how about the opposite? How does overly present staff affect productivity? The answer to this question is best described by the concept of presenteeism. Highlighted by academics, business stakeholders and […]

January 25th, 2023

Birth is a miracle. When new parents bring babies into the world, they create a vital new generation, enriching their lives, and the life of our society as a whole. Paternity leave serves an important social function. Employers and employees alike benefit from learning about paternity leave in the UK, as the right knowledge helps […]

December 16th, 2022

The world of work sees trends come and go on a yearly basis. And 2023 will be no different. In fact, next year is set to disrupt traditional ways of working altogether. In the upcoming year, we expect generations across the decades to work collaboratively, with Gen Z accounting for over 40% of the employee […]

November 28th, 2022

Companies with great well-being perform well. When you invest in your strongest asset, your team, you create a dedicated, sustainable, and successful workplace. The best and brightest companies outlast their rivals by fostering a happy workplace, leaving the rest of the world striving to keep up. So how can you follow their lead and promote […]

October 25th, 2022

People make businesses what they are. Successful companies value their team as their number one resource, and they’ll stop at nothing to protect and facilitate that resource’s growth. The team’s value means that absence, in turn, becomes critical as soon as it gets out of hand. To make the most of your team and keep […]

September 29th, 2022

Everyone loves Fridays, the day at the end of the week when we enjoy some hard-earned time off. However, not everyone works for all of their allotted hours. The reasons for absences vary, from illness to holiday to Bank Holiday to unpaid leave, but all these causes share a common impact: A cost to the […]

July 25th, 2022

When we discuss business sustainability, we often mean things like cash flow, growth forecasting, recruitment, and investment strategies. However, becoming an eco-friendly business should also be near the top of your agenda, as industries prioritise environmental, as well as financial, stability. It’s harder than ever to grow without being green, due to a range of […]

June 23rd, 2022

We all recognise the importance of business fire safety, but what steps do we actually take to protect our workplaces and keep our colleagues safe? Staying prepared, and working hard to prevent hazards, should be high on the agenda for every business. However, too often, companies let their standards slip and put their colleagues at […]

May 28th, 2022

The phrase ‘automation in the workplace’ still conjures images of shiny cyborgs manufacturing lasers or spaceships far in the future. In reality, however, robotic systems and automated processes have already worked alongside humans. They’ve done so for decades, and according to Moore’s law, they’ll continue to increase every year. American engineer Gordon Moore conceived this […]

April 28th, 2022

Finding business cost savings can be a thankless task. No one wants to be a penny pincher, but sometimes it’s the tough decision that makes or breaks a business. Finding the right savings keeps a business sustainable, protecting livelihoods and supporting your customers. With the following 15 tips, some luck, and some business instincts, you […]

March 28th, 2022

Society’s views of COVID-19 have started to shift as we enter an endemic rather than a pandemic. The disease is no longer a one-time threat that defines our lives. Instead, it is an aspect of everyday life that we must learn to coexist with. Therefore, many feel it is now time to swap their pyjamas […]

February 28th, 2022

Businesses face all kinds of physical threats from theft, vandalism, and trespassing on their premises. With many workplaces switching to hybrid working, business security takes on even more hybrid risks. Hacks, phishing, and cybercrimes are more rampant than ever, and that doesn’t discount the physical dangers facing emptier and more vulnerable offices. Therefore, companies must […]

January 28th, 2022

Work-life balance is a fluffy term for a serious issue. It affects millions of people worldwide, draining motivation, damaging health, and sapping growth from businesses. To improve work-life balance, we first have to understand it. The phrase draws on a metaphor, positioning the modern worker as a kind of tightrope walker. Lean too far into […]

December 28th, 2021

January brings new business challenges every year, and the 2020s add extra turbulence, uncertainty, and dynamic new norms. Widespread changes swept through office spaces worldwide in the past few months, and the rate of change shows no sign of slowing. However, reflecting on the existing trends and preparing for their growth in the coming months […]

October 29th, 2021

Now, more than ever, businesses around the world choose a biometric attendance system to support their staff. From global banks to enterprising start-ups, firms of all shapes and sizes get rid of passwords, keys, and swipecards for new, cloud-driven solutions. This change seems sudden and drastic to some, causing business leaders to ask important questions […]

September 29th, 2021

Strong workplace productivity separates ambitious, well-run businesses from stagnant firms with disaffected staff. The best companies run like well-oiled machines, but low workplace productivity reflects a team performing well under-par. However, when business leaders understand workplace productivity and take steps to improve it, they revolutionise their companies and revitalise their working environments. Employing tactics from […]

August 15th, 2021

Buddy punching, a friendly name for concerning practice, affects businesses all over the world. The practice damages firms of all sizes, from family businesses to international conglomerates. Some estimates put buddy punching’s yearly cost to the US economy well over $350 million. In Britain, it costs many firms tens of thousands of pounds and can […]

July 27th, 2021

Hybrid working, the phrase on everyone’s lips, look set to redefine workplace futures across the globe. Since the COVID pandemic enforced abrupt changes to employee working patterns, more and more firms have embraced remote and flexible working. Lockdown accelerated the gradual digitisation of communal workplace premises. This proved that many firms possess the tools to […]

June 30th, 2021

Working from home increased dramatically in 2020, forcing workers worldwide into a steep learning curve of behavioural change. While increasing workplace accessibility and eliminating commutes, remote working can bore employees to tears at times. Without the proper practices, working from home feels more like sleeping at the office, as professionalism invades privacy and productivity becomes […]

June 29th, 2021

Absenteeism affects every UK business, but its complexity resists even the top economists’ understanding. Experts tally its impact on the UK economy between 18 and 77 billion pounds per year, so conscientious firms manage unplanned absence as a top priority. Of course, personnel need time off, and authorised absences maintain productivity and boost morale. However, […]

May 30th, 2021

Employees are the most important assets to your company. With a good workforce management strategy, you can meet customer demand with little stress or personal conflict among employees and their managers. A System Built for the Modern Business The concept of ‘work-life balance‘ is a term that’s been in the spotlight for some time now, […]

May 27th, 2021

Since the WHO declared burnout an ‘epidemic’ in 2019, learning how to reduce employee burnout became a top priority for firms worldwide. Burnout, a buzzword with real-life consequences, wreaks havoc on health and wellbeing, not to mention business efficacy. As a workplace phenomenon draining £900 million from the UK economy every year, burnout could be […]

April 30th, 2021

Running a small business can be time-consuming and costly; when your team is working cohesively to fulfil your vision, you can reap the rewards of a well-run venture. In order to ensure that your workers are safe and productive, you might be considering a clocking in system. Gone are the days of the card-punch system […]

March 30th, 2021

The 1960s changed the world in many ways, including a revolution in the practice of time management. In 1961, the late great Richard Matessich pioneered the computerised spreadsheet. This invention spelt the end of generations of physical attendance management. It made papers and punch cards obsolete, scheduling their doom in neat, digital boxes. Electronic Attendance Management […]

February 26th, 2021

Businesses depend on employee attendance to carry out their most basic functions. Tracking this attendance proves essential to business prosperity. As businesses evolve, firms substitute pens and paper for technological solutions. New, smart attendance systems offer unprecedented advantages over their analogue ancestors. These software options, known as Time and Attendance Systems, play a greater role […]

January 30th, 2021

Proximity Readers provide the first line of defence to many secure entryways and rooms. They are smart, programmable, and most importantly, dependable. But how do proximity readers work? As a well-established technology, engineers and researchers honed and innovated card readers over the decades since their inception. They currently play a huge role in modern society, […]

January 27th, 2021

Every business has its ups and downs with deadlines and quotas. If you feel like your team isn’t hitting all the targets it should be, you may need to consider how to improve business efficiency. Efficiency, the target of every high-achieving business, might sound too good to be true: getting the most done with the […]

December 23rd, 2020

Modern businesses and their staff are learning to become ever more flexible. From night shifts to working hours based around the school day, the old routine of 9 to 5 is no longer the only option. Where people work is also evolving, and the Coronavirus has forced many companies to adapt quickly to the new […]

December 10th, 2020

Change in the workplace can be daunting, and well-established employees can be resistant to the introduction of new systems. Businesses that rely on staff attendance to company property need to be able to track who is on-site. This used to be done with time stamp paper cards or scanning a staff ID pass. With technological […]

November 26th, 2020

It’s an old adage, but it’s spot-on. Time is money. Many of us work to live – essentially by selling our time. And just like everything to do with money in any commercial or contractual arrangement the less ambiguity the better – for all concerned. Payer or payee, business or customer, employer or employee – […]

February 13th, 2020

Caunton Engineering’s new £5 million site known as “The Cut Shack” has been officially opened. As one of our long term customers, Caunton Engineering again chose Egress Systems to supply Time & Attendance and Access Control for the new site. “The Cut Shack” features access control on two perimeter gates and three internal doors plus clocking for […]

February 13th, 2020

Hosted Time & Attendance Software We’ve frequently been asked by our customers whether we offer a hosted or cloud-based time & attendance software – well now we do! This solution offers all of the functionality of Focus Enterprise hosted for you off-site at a UK based data centre. All you need is internet access and you can […]

February 13th, 2020

Egress Systems are now pleased to be able to offer integration with the Tachomaster web service as part of the Focus Time & Attendance solution. Originally implemented for Arla Foods, the interface automatically collects and processes raw Tachomaster Digi card information and uses it to populate the Focus timesheet. Using Tachomaster to feed Focus with […]

February 13th, 2020

Are you looking for time and attendance software that’s suitable for running on your Apple Mac? Well, look no further. Our hosted time and attendance software is easily accessible from an Apple Mac, not to mention your iPhone or iPad. If you have a mixture of operating systems across Android and Microsoft platforms too then […]

February 13th, 2020

New Feature: Prevent a Focus User from editing their own timesheet This useful feature available in Focus Pro/Enterprise version 3.416 can be found in the User Setup screen. Click on Add Link to link the currently selected user with their employee record. New Feature: Mandatory comment on Absence Reason edit This optional absence reason requirement can […]