We use an automated system as well. Our ID badges serve two purposes:
(1) admission to all areas of the hospital through readers at each door,
including outside doors after hours, and (2) timekeeping. Data entry is
done by passing the card through a reader, then entering information
using a keypad that is an integral part of the reader. Hourly employees
log in at the start of the day (7.5 min windows), when they leave and
return from lunch, and at the end of the day. Salaried employees log in
once per day (at any time). Hourly employees can enter information that
allows their time to be charged to an area/section different from their
"home" area/section (since I'm salaried, I don't know all the ins and
outs of this part). Salaried employees need only pass the card through
and press "enter". No employees are exempt, even the docs log in. I
think that since it's tied to hospital security (and even before it was
used for secured employee entry, it was advertised as such), it's been
readily accepted by everyone. No one complains that I know of.

We do not use it for time/effort reporting. We still use a paper form
generated in my office and signed by each employee and the PI or project
director. I prefer to use % effort rather than actual hours when keeping
time for a project, if at all possible. I suppose our system could be
used, but as you noted the hassle of logging in and out as one shifted
from one phase of work to another would cause a lot of complaints--and
involve more effort than monthly reporting.

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*  Bill Caskey                                                        *
*  Director, Research & Grants Administration    *
*  The Children's Mercy Hospital                          *
*  2401 Gillham Road                                           *
*  Kansas City, MO  64108                                  *
*  Voice:       (816) 234-3879                                   *
*  FAX: (816) 855-1982                                   *
*  E-mail:      xxxxxx@cmh.edu                             *
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