The Department of Labor’s revision of the overtime rules has officially gone into effect. This gives an estimated 1.3 million workers a raise, specifically the ones who are currently making $35,568 annually or less ( $684  or less weekly). These employees must be paid overtime if they work more than 40 hours a week. Previously, salaried employees were only entitled to overtime pay if they made less than $455.00 a week, or $23,660 annually.

How will this affect your business? Well, a big question is do you currently track your employee’s hours? We often see companies who don’t require their salary employees to punch in and out. Now that there are new rules in place you want to make sure that your employees are getting overtime, they put in.  You also do not want to get in trouble with the Department of Labor and end up paying more in fines than you would have in the first place. This begs the question: do you have a system in place to track your employee’s hours? If the answer is no, consider one of our time and attendance solutions. Our dependable and affordable products make tracking employee hours easy. We have options ranging from manual punch clocks to electronic totalizing clocks, and software-based products.

Contact us today so we can get you set up for a successful New Year.

For more information about the final ruling, visit the Department of Labor’s website or click here to read the official update.

More often than not, resolutions include losing weight, nixing bad habits, or a vow to try something new.  While these personal goals are great, maybe add one that will contribute to the success of your business too.

Does your business currently use a successful method for time tracking? One that works well for your employees, saves you time, and provides accurate information? If you answered no to any of these questions maybe it is time to evaluate your process and make a change in time for 2020. Acroprint has a variety of products that are user-friendly, affordable, accurate, and will cut your payroll preparation time in half.

Are you looking for something that you can access on your PC? Pendulum , timeQplus, and ProPunch  (our newest addition to the Acroprint product line) are our software based products that can manage everything for you. Employees can punch using a terminal or a PC. The collected data is editable in the software so you can review timesheets, run reports, and prepare your payroll export file in a snap.   Our BioTouch clock is great for those who want to just use MS Excel, simply have employees punch then upload the punches to a spreadsheet for easy editing.

Don’t need software? No problem! Our heavy-duty time clocks Model 125 and 150 for the purists out there, are manufactured in our facility located in Raleigh, NC. The ES700 and ES900 are great options for office environments, and we have totalizing clocks, ES1000 or ATR480, that make calculating totals much easier! 

Go ahead and get your new system today so you can start 2020 off with a bang. Not sure what you need? Our sales team can answer any questions you might have and get you set up with a system that is perfect for your business. We’re also offering 15% off of orders $50.00 or more so don’t delay – this deal won’t last forever.

Now, technically this day is not actually scary and some might even argue its greatness because when the clock “falls back” we get an extra hour of sleep. Of course, that only applies to the first day, and after that we’re just in the dark for the rest of the season.

Through recent years the concept of DST has been questioned and many are hoping to abolish the use of it completely.  As times have changed (pun intended) it seems like the need for it has diminished and it is just unnecessary. There are many states that are making moves to permanently observe Daylight Saving Time, including: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. These states have either approved or presented legislation to move forward with this, but ultimately the decision has to be approved by the federal government before it can roll out. It will be interesting to see what happens- and how soon this would be implemented if passed.

This year we must fall back so if you need assistance with your timeclock we can help. Click here to view some instructions on turning back your clocks. If you have grown tired of resetting your clocks twice a year maybe it’s time to consider an upgrade. We offer automated software solutions that take care of the time change for you.

We’ve been following this story for years, so if you want a recap you can check out my previous post here. If you just need a brief refresher, read on.  Overtime was officially established in 1938 when the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed, and the 40-hour work week we all know and love was established two years later. The concept of overtime was introduced and proposed that all non-exempt employees who work over 40 hours a week would be compensated for their additional hours with time and a half pay. This only applied to non-exempt employees until 2004 when it was decided that if an employee’s salary was ~$23,000 a year or less, then they were entitled to overtime pay if they worked over 40 hours a week as well.  

This final decision comes years after the initial proposal was made that would raise the salary threshold to ~$47,000 a year. This came very close but in 2017 it was officially terminated. One big reason was because this rule positioned the threshold to automatically adjust every four years based on inflation and Judges felt that no increase should be automatic, all are subject to review.

So here we are years later and we have a conclusion. The Labor Department finalized the rule and overtime pay eligibility now expands to salaried employees making less than $35,500 per year. This news is big – especially to the 1.3 million workers who are now eligible for overtime pay. Click here to read more about the final rule.

Now you should ask yourself, do I have the proper tools in place for tracking employee hours?  January 1, 2020 will be here soon! Create a checklist and decide what you need for your business to comply with the new ruling.  One of those items should be a time keeping solution.  Not sure what to get? Don’t worry, Acroprint is here to help!  Our products will track hours, overtime, bonuses and much more. Contact us today to discuss your business needs with us and together we can determine which product is best for your company. 

So, what happened? The gas station is to pay back over $200,000.00 in back wages, damages, and penalties. The outcome begs the question, is it worth not having a time tracking system in place? We don’t think so.

The fact of the matter is that these stories are not uncommon, and even worse many times employers don’t even realize they’re violating any standards.

With that being said, if you do not have a system in place to track your employee’s time worked, or how much they are getting paid, it would be wise to consider one. There are so many alternatives that will prevent you from ending up in hot water with the DOL.

You might be asking, “so, what are my options?” and that’s what I’ll share with you now. Our products range from mechanical to cloud-hosted and with any one of them you can track those employee hours.Traditional side print clocks:  Our Model 125 or 150 timeclocks offer a rugged designed ideal for harsh environments and accepts standard side print time cards.

Top loader time clocks: Our top loader time clocks will align the print for the employees.  Two of these options will total the cards too!  There is another exciting element about these clocks- they’re currently 15% off through September!

Software based solutions : If you need more data, we have software solutions that pair up with your timeclock. timeQplus is a software installed time and attendance system that will allow you to analyze data and run reports from your computer. If you need something more customizable then take a look at Pendulum. This is one of our most robust solutions largely because it has optional modules that can be added. Both of these options work with multiple data collection terminals– so employees can punch in and out in a traditional way while your data will stay housed in the software.  Earlier this year we released our newest solution, ProPunch. This software can be installed and accessed by other devices through your network settings.  And last but not least, AcroTime is our completely cloud-hosted solution. All you need is an Internet connection and a browser to get started. You can still use a timeclock if you want, or a mobile app with certain versions. On the beach but need to check your employee’s timecard? No problem here.

While the process of choosing the right system might seem overwhelming, it really isn’t.  Contact us today to figure out which system is right for you.  With all of these options there is no excuse to have undocumented time for your employees. Make this a priority for your business to save time, money, and yourself from an unwanted fine from the Department of Labor.

This year Acroprint is celebrating our 50^th Anniversary.  As previously mentioned 50 years ago we launched our first time recorder, the Model 125.  Over the years we have expanded our product offering with different time tracking solutions.  As leaders in the time and attendance industry, we know the importance of ease and accessibility. Our top loaders are able to offer some features that our original Model 125 does not.  Let me give you the rundown on what’s so special about these robust machines.

Let’s start with our ATR120r Time Clock. This item has been in our product line for years because it gets the job done! What are some of the perks? This clock has automatic card positioning so that the punches will be aligned correctly without any work from the employee – simply drop the card the clock punches in the correct spot.  This clock features a large analog clock face and an internal audible signal – it also supports external signal devices too. Worried about someone tampering with the unit? No need! There’s a secure lock and coded password setting to prevent this.

Not to be outdone, our ATR480 totalizing time clock automatically calculates time between punches & totals time. How easy is that? It has a 50-employee capacity, so it is ideal for small to mid-size businesses. This clock includes battery back-up so one can use the clock during power outages.  If you need signals for shift changes or breaks the ATR480 can operate an external bell (or horn) to signal shift changes or breaks.

Last, but certainly not least, the ES1000 Totalizing Payroll Recorder calculates hours worked (including overtime) and produces reports. No PC required! The clock supports up to 100 employees. The ES1000 features atomic synchronization for insure time accuracy, including Daylight Saving Time adjustments.  This clock also offers an optional battery back-up (allow clock use during power outages) and external buzzer/bells (signals start/end times).

Now here is the even more exciting information – to continue celebrating our 50^th Anniversary, for the month of August, you can save 15% on all top loading time clocks!  Just use the code “TOPLOAD15” at checkout.  This code also applies to the top loading clocks’ accessories too – timecards and racks. Who doesn’t love a sale? Especially when the item will save you time and money in the long run. Visit our website to shop online, or call Acroprint to place an order today!

Thankfully, Acroprint can help with this! Our web-hosted solution, AcroTime can make scheduling a breeze. The Platinum version of AcroTime, and our Scheduler add-on module include features to help you build, fill, and manage your schedules. Still not convinced you need a scheduling solution? We can give you four big reasons to make the change.

4 reasons to automate your scheduling with AcroTime

1. No More Double Booking:

Double booking can happen in one of two ways. When employees fulfill multiple roles at the same company, they can often find themselves scheduled to cover two different tasks at the same time. Similarly, you may also end up scheduling two employees to do the same job at a time when you only need one. AcroTime keeps track of your needs and can ensures that you don’t end up with more employees than you need for one shift, which can leave you shorthanded during another.

2. Be on top of employee availability:

Your employees have lives outside of work. Depending on their needs, they might only have certain availability, and it can be tough to remember everything when making sure you have all of your company’s staffing needs met. AcroTime allows employees to set availability and preferences for the schedules. If they know they need to work shorter hours in the summer because they’re kids are home this can be established in their availability. When a schedule is generated, the system will consider the availability and preferences for all of your employees. It will also factor in upcoming vacation time and holidays too. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of scheduling and will ensure that your employees are scheduled at the right time.

3.Employees are scheduled for shifts they’re qualified to take:

If you have an employee that has never worked the cash register before, you don’t want to schedule them to be the only employee in your store. Similarly, when an employee has never closed before, you also don’t want them doing so alone for some time. Good scheduling software can not only ensure that you have enough people to cover all the shifts and positions necessary but that the people who are scheduled are qualified to do the work necessary during those shifts.

 4. Effective and Fair Shift Trading: In many situations if an employee needs a shift covered they are responsible for finding a replacement. While a well-meaning employee is simply looking for someone to take their shift, they might not know if their replacement is qualified for the job or if the additional hours will put them into overtime. There can also be unfair shift distribution when tenured employees bully newbies into taking the less desirable shifts so they end up with all the best ones. AcroTime is intuitive enough to consider these things when a shift is swapped. It looks at the employee’s skills, availability, preferences, and hours in order for the shift to be covered properly.

If you are ready to change your scheduling process then do so with AcroTime. This solution also offers top notch Time and Attendance tracking, HR management, and even Payroll. These tasks take up a lot of time, and it doesn’t have to be that way. Use these last months of summer to get your scheduling needs met. You will be ready to go- just in time for school to start up again, and even more prepared when the holidays roll in. Call us today at 919.872.5800 or email us at Sales@acrotime.com to get a demo or price quote.  

In our business we have heard of companies who only want to use a system to track their employees’ time worked, not their time off. A hand-written note or an email request has been their rule of thumb for requesting time off. This method might work fine for some, but the chance for an error is greater than if an automated system was in place. Imagine a supervisor managing multiple projects, they do not have time to dig through their employees’ records to tally up their current vacation balance. That note requesting a day off in three months is probably not top of mind, and could get tucked away or thrown out. A lack of communication could have an employee thinking they’re in the clear, but their PTO balance says otherwise. Without any record of their request, they’re out of luck. Your workplace could have multiple approval levels required for time off requests, and it might not be uncommon to spend more time tracking someone down to make your time off request than the actual length of your upcoming trip. Your employees would appreciate your investment in a workforce management solution that will properly track and store this type of data.

Here at Acroprint we think an employee’s time off the clock is just as important as the hours they work every day. We offer automated solutions that will streamline this task, empower your employees, provide accurate data, and much more!  For instance, our AcroTime solution allows employees to request time off directly from their account, review their time off balances, and see what they have accrued. The system also provides a time off calendar for employees to see company schedules, or their co-workers’ upcoming time off that might conflict with theirs.  Managers can receive email notifications when a request comes through, make modifications to the request, and setup approval levels based on your company’s requirements.

Doesn’t that sound like a dream? Perhaps one you might have while relaxing on the beach during your own summer vacation?  Want to review some other reasons why you should migrate to the cloud, check this post out.  Contact us today for more information about AcroTime and we can make this dream come true.

Let’s take it all the way back to the beginning – overtime officially was recognized in 1938 when the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed. The bill limited the work week to 44 hours (two years later it was shortened to 40 hours). The concept of overtime was introduced and proposed that all non-exempt employees who work over 40 hours a week would be compensated for their additional hours with time and a half pay. The law has changed some over the years, but the major principles have remained intact.

Where does this leave someone who works on a salary? Well, in 2004 the salary threshold was set at ~$23,000 a year. Meaning if an employee made less than that much money a year, they were entitled to overtime pay when they worked more than 40 hours a week, regardless of their actual job duties. Unfortunately, this overtime threshold has remained unchanged for far too long and is now below the poverty line for a family of four.

That’s why in 2016, it was proposed that the salary threshold get raised. Fair enough, but it didn’t take. Why? Because it doubled to ~$47,000/year. This would mean that any employee making less than $47,000/year would get time and half pay for hours worked beyond their 40 a week. Another tidbit about the new law- in the future it would automatically increase the threshold based on consumer index, and that is what ultimately killed it. Before this officially passed, an injunction was filed. Judges felt that every increase should be subject to a review, not automatic.

So, it was back to the drawing board. The $47,000/year figure has been thrown out and more modest salaries have been considered. In March 2019, the DOL issued an updated statement that proposed employees making less than $35,308 a year will be eligible for overtime pay, and that the salary threshold be evaluated every four years (read the overtime update here).

According to the statement, released on March 7^th, the DOL held six listening sessions and reviewed over 200,000 comments pertaining to this issue. There is one thing everyone is agreeing on- the current law definitely is in need of improvements. Surely challenges will remain as it all gets finalized – worker advocates may argue that it still doesn’t go far enough and businesses may be worried about how this will affect their payroll costs.

We will continue to update you as things unfold. In the meantime, what do you think about the current overtime laws, and the potential updates? How will your business be affected?  As you answer these questions, it’s time to ask yourself- do you have the right payroll solution in place? 

As a company that has been dealing with employee time and attendance products for 50 years, we are here to help. With our AcroTime solution, you can do one-single sign to run reports to see who is eligible, and then review and adjust pay rates as needed. The process is so easy and more importantly you will be in compliance with overtime laws without any headache. Contact us today for a demo or price quote. Our top priority is saving you time and money.

What to let the lawmakers know how you feel about the proposal? Share your questions and concerns here before May 7^th at 11:59pm.

That’s right, Acroprint has been providing employee time tracking solutions for 50 years.

Acroprint was founded on April 1, 1969, by Wilbur Robbins, in Raleigh, NC. Robbins was a top-performing time clock salesman at IBM and Simplex and through his experience, he saw an opportunity to offer a new clock to the time clock dealer community. Enter, Acroprint’s Model 125.

After its initial release, the company quickly added more clocks to their product line, including the Model 150. These Acroprint clocks are widely recognized for their trademark green color and are seen all over the place – movies, television shows, super-bowl commercials, print advertising and more!  We are happy to report that these clocks are still assembled at the company’s headquarters in Raleigh to this day.

Over the years, the company’s offerings have evolved with the times. In the 1980s we launched more mechanical clock options and even electrical units, and in 1990s we introduced software-based systems. In 2009, Acroprint’s 40^th Anniversary, we launched our web-hosted solution, AcroTime, and right before this Golden Anniversary we launched ProPunch, our on-premise web application.

The company continues as a family-owned business in Raleigh, NC. The current company president is Glenn Robbins, son of Wilbur, and a 45-year employee of Acroprint. “It’s been a wonderful 50 years, and we’re looking forward to the next 50!”, he says.

We are so happy to be celebrating this milestone and to say thank you for helping make it happen, we are giving you a little gift. For the whole month of April we are offering a Buy one Get one 50% off promotion. Check out our website for more details.