Tech Tip: Compliance made easier with the short break confirmation feature in TimeClock Plus

The short break confirmation feature provides more accurate break tracking, making it easy for managers to track when and why breaks are shortened while also reducing compliance risk and improving staff experiences. Compliance with break labor laws is most notably enforced in the state of California but may be stringently enforced in other states/municipalities as well.

Here are some of the key benefits to using the short break confirmation feature:

• Automated tracking of shortened breaks: TimeClock Plus automatically records early returns from breaks and the rationale provided by the employee for the early return, reducing the burden on managers to manually approve their return and improving record accuracy.
• Legal compliance and audit readiness: Customizable options for documenting early break returns aid in complying with labor laws and facilitate easier audits.
• Insightful reporting: With recorded data, it’s possible to generate reports detailing who returned early from breaks and why, making it easier to spot patterns in shortened break activity to address recurring issues and prevent poor employee experiences.
• Compliance and audit readiness: This feature is particularly useful for managing the complexities of meal break compliance. It enables precise tracking and documentation required for legal compliance, minimizing the risk of penalties for missed or shortened breaks.

How the short break confirmation feature works

When employees clock in early from a break, a two-stage prompt system engages:

1. The first prompt informs the employee they are returning to work with time remaining in their break.

2. If they choose to return early, the second prompt asks them to select a reason from a customizable list of options for their early return.

How to set up the short break confirmation feature

Log into TimeClock Plus as an administrator and click the “Configuration” tab from the list of options on the left-hand side.

Click on “Other Configurations” from the drop-down menu, and then click on “Clock Configurations.” This will bring you to the Clock Configurations page.

On the “Clock Configurations” page, hover over the “Clock Operations” tab, and click on “Short Break” at the bottom of the drop down menu.

You can now enable a short break notification for the employee to see if they return from break early and present them with a custom question for rationale on their early return. You can also add multiple responses for the employee to choose from as a response to the early return prompt.