This issue focuses on adding geofencing to watches in the app and what preparations can already be made for it.
Location-Based Time Tracking
For the past two years, R&R has been offering time tracking via the R&R Job App. This method allows employees to log their attendance and breaks through the app. While time tracking via the R&R Job App offers a great deal of flexibility, it has the drawback of being perceived by some employers as “too flexible.” Starting April 2, 2024, the additional “geofencing” feature will make it possible to restrict time tracking to the physical location where work is permitted.
How does it work?
R&R uses geofencing to verify whether an employee is authorized to clock in at a specific location. For each physical location in R&R, you can specify a GPS coordinate where clocking in is permitted.
When an employee opens the R&R Job App and taps “Clock In,” the app checks whether the phone is within the setup radius of one of the physical locations. If so, the clock-in button is available. If not, a notification appears stating that the employer has specified that clocking in can only be done at the workplace. This check only takes place when an employee begins clocking in. No geolocation check is performed when clocking out, booking a break, or changing departments. The R&R Job App only determines whether an employee is allowed to clock in, but not where they worked. The location displayed in the app is still determined based on the scheduled shifts.
What about data protection?
R&R values its users’ privacy. For this reason, geofencing is designed so that the user’s location data is neither stored nor shared. The phone checks whether an employee is authorized to clock in based on their location. If so, the clock-in button becomes visible, and only the clock-in times are transmitted to R&R. So we send all approved locations to the phone instead of querying the user’s location. This means that the user’s geolocation is never transmitted to R&R.
Shortly after the release, it will be possible to exclude an employee from geofencing via the employee card. That employee can then clock in via the app as if geofencing were not enabled. This ensures that you can also clock in employees who do not have (functional) GPS on their device or who have legitimate objections to the use of their location, rather than having to rely on the duty roster, for example.
Do you have any questions about the information above? Please contact us at aftersales@rr-wfm.com .
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Sincerely,
Mark Taling – Product Owner
