Biometric clocking, in plain English.

How Biometric clocking works.

Biometric clocking identifies an employee by a physical characteristic, most often a fingerprint or face, instead of a card or PIN. Modern systems store a mathematical template rather than an image, and the template cannot be reversed into the original biometric. Because the data is biometric, collection and retention are regulated in many jurisdictions and generally require notice and explicit consent before enrollment.

Where Biometric clocking goes wrong.

• Deploying biometric capture without the written notice and consent the jurisdiction requires.
• Retaining templates after employment ends where the applicable rule requires deletion.
• No fallback method for employees whose biometric will not enroll, leaving them unable to clock in.

Where Biometric clocking sits between HR and payroll.

Biometric clocking does not stand alone. The concepts most often paired with it on a Workforce run are Time and attendance, Buddy punching. Each is defined elsewhere in this glossary so you can trace the full chain without leaving the site.