Buddy punching — when one employee clocks in for another — costs US employers an estimated $373 million a year. Biometric attendance stops it by tying every clock-in to a verified person.
Why buddy punching happens
Cards, PINs and paper sheets can be shared or faked. Without identity verification, there is nothing to stop a colleague clocking in an absent co-worker.
How to prevent it
- Use biometrics: face or fingerprint can’t be handed to someone else.
- Add location: geofencing confirms staff clocked in on-site.
- Capture every record: verified, time-stamped logs remove disputes.
What it’s worth
Time theft of all kinds costs US businesses billions each year. Eliminating buddy punching means you pay only for hours actually worked — accuracy that pays for itself.
FAQ
Is biometric clock-in slow? No — a face or fingerprint check takes seconds, faster than cards.
See NCheck on your own devices. NCheck is a biometric time & attendance, access control and visitor management platform that runs on phones, tablets, IP cameras or terminals — in the cloud or fully on-premises. Book a demo.
