What Ever Happened to That Free Punch Clock?

Every workplace needed a free punch clock to keep track of the hours an employee actually worked. These were the most frequently used time clocks until advances in computer technology make this style of clock obsolete. The free punch time clock relied on a time card, which was inserted into a slot and stamped with the time that a person clocked in and clocked out. The cards were gathered up at the end of the workweek by the payroll department. The times were tallied and paychecks created. For many years, this is how the payroll system worked. Even though the system of payroll was simple, due to human error, people clocking in for other employees, and other mishaps, companies began looking into alternatives when the computer age began.

These days, free punch clocks can still be found, but only in companies that have smaller staffs. Many companies used electronic id cards instead of paper time cards. This makes it harder for people to clock other people in and out. Also, since these computerized time clock systems perform all math calculations, mistakes due to human error have decreased. This saves the company money and the employee is paid on time and in full.

Free punch clocks came in two styles. The very first clock had a lever that an employee would pull after inserting their time card. This would stamp the card with the correct time. More modern versions of this time clock no longer have levers. A sensor inside the time clock would signal the stamp to press down on the card. This saved time in the morning when people were lining up to punch in for the day. Free punch time clocks are in many old pictures of warehouses and factories. Replacing the old free punch clock made payroll more efficient and employees more honest.