Short answer: to connect employees who work on the floor, on the road or in the field, give them one mobile app for everything they need at work: their schedule, clock-in, timecards, time-off and swap requests, forms and company updates. When the app answers the everyday questions, managers stop being a human help desk and employees get answers in seconds.
Most frontline employees do not have a work email or a desk. Their connection to the company is a printed schedule, a manager’s phone number and whatever they hear at the start of a shift. That works until the schedule changes, someone needs a day off, or an important update reaches only half the team.
What connected employees can do on their own
- See their schedule and get notified when it changes.
- Clock in and out with GPS, an NFC tag or a kiosk.
- Check their hours and report a missed punch the same day.
- Request time off and swap shifts, with manager approval.
- Fill out forms and sign documents digitally.
- Read updates on the company wall and ask questions in team chat.
How much manager time does it free up?
Every “When am I working?” text and every paper time-off request takes a few minutes. Drag the sliders to see what that adds up to over a year.
How much time do routine requests take?
Drag the sliders for a typical week. See how much manager time goes to answering questions that an employee app answers on its own.
Your own estimates. Schedule questions in an app often take zero manager time because employees see their shifts themselves.
How to connect employees in four steps
- Pick one app. Schedules, time, requests and updates in one place. Separate apps for each task lose people fast.
- Make it the official channel. The schedule in the app is the schedule. Requests outside the app are redirected to it.
- Onboard in a huddle. Ten minutes at the start of a shift: download, log in, clock in, find next week’s shifts.
- Answer fast. Approve requests and reply to questions in the app, so employees see it is worth using.
Respect boundaries
Being connected should not mean being on call. Set clear expectations about when employees need to check the app, keep non-urgent updates to working hours, and remember that for non-exempt employees, work performed outside scheduled hours can count as hours worked.
Connect employees with EZTime
The EZTime employee app gives every employee their schedule, clock-in, timecards, PTO and swap requests, digital forms, the company wall and team chat on their phone. Managers approve requests and see attendance from one dashboard, and payroll gets approved hours.
See EZTime with your own team
Leave your details and a US team member will reach out, or start your free 14-day trial right away. Plans start at $2 per employee per month.
Frequently asked questions
How do you connect employees who do not have a work computer?
Give them one mobile app for everything they need at work: schedules, clock-in, time-off requests, forms and company updates. Most frontline employees already carry a smartphone, and a kiosk or tablet can cover anyone who does not.
What should an employee app include?
Shifts and schedule changes, clock-in and clock-out, timecards, PTO requests, shift swaps, digital forms and a company wall or chat for updates.
Can employees use their personal phones for work apps?
Many businesses allow it, but set clear rules on when employees are expected to check the app and pay for any work time that happens outside scheduled hours. A shared kiosk is an alternative for clocking in.
How do I get employees to actually use the app?
Make it the only place for schedules and requests, show people how to use it in a short huddle, and answer requests there instead of by text. Adoption grows when the app saves employees time too.
Does connecting employees through an app help retention?
Clear schedules, fair processes and quick answers to requests are part of a good working experience. An employee app makes those everyday basics easier to deliver consistently.
This article is general information for US employers, not tax or legal advice. Tax rates, wage bases and state rules change; confirm current figures with the IRS, your state agency or a payroll professional.