Finding ghost employees.

[Dave A]

There is now

We've introduced clockcards, spot checks, a control sheet and my beloved summary. It has actually reduced the admin load with an outlay of under R2k.

I just love summaries. What's the story at a glance and I'll dig into whatever looks off from there

I'll go for the fingerprint scanner deal when we've grown some more. Right now, 'tis the season for tight budgets.

[CharlesM]

Dave,
From a very small business point of view it is perhaps rather different, but surely the person who does your payroll verifies the timesheets for overtime pay, annual leave, sick leave etc. Between the "workface" and the payroll there should be some valid check.

Yvonne

Keep in mind that the person doing the payroll is usually also the person responsible for paying all the creditors. Creditors alone can be an enormous task, and with all this workload and usually only a day or two to do it all, the person doing the payroll doesn't really have the time or enough concentration left over to still recon timesheets, leave, etc. That's what managers, supervisors and teamleaders are for.

Small business? Pick a team leader for this responsibility every three months. They'll feel more important, and you will see more clearly which of your staff enjoy taking on such a responsibility which will make your selection process easier when the business grows.

[Marq]

Just get the summary list and payslips yourself every now a then and dish it out yourself - All staff line up and you get to give the slips out like lucky packet day.

This way

• You get to actually meet your staff
• You get to know your staff
• You keep them all on their toes
• You see what they earn and ask them what they did for it
• You get your arse licked for while
• You sleep again at night knowing they are all pulling for you...Well thats the theory part anyway.

Then you check the totals in the summary list to the monthly accounts, make sure the bank payroll run balances without anybody knowing - 5 minutes later - job done.

For anybody who does not pitch - put their next months salary on hold and then pay yourself out at the end of the following month or have a staff party at the next payout.

Do this at odd random times during the year and hey presto - Ghosts, shirkers, AWOLers, BS Artists are all gone.