Buddy punching

In the UK, “buddy punching” refers to a practice where an employee clocks in for a colleague who has failed to arrive at work on time, thereby allowing them to receive pay and benefits that they would not have been entitled to had they arrived late themselves. This can be done by swiping their colleague’s ID card or using their login credentials to clock in on their behalf.

The term “buddy punching” is derived from the idea that one employee (the “buddy”) is effectively “punching” in for another employee who has not shown up, thereby allowing them to receive pay and benefits that they would not have been entitled to had they arrived late themselves. This practice can be considered a form of time theft or dishonesty, as it involves falsifying attendance records and potentially depriving the employer of accurate information about staff attendance.

In the UK, buddy punching is often viewed as an unacceptable practice, particularly in industries where accurate recording of hours worked is crucial for payroll purposes, such as construction or manufacturing. Employers may take disciplinary action against employees who engage in buddy punching, including issuing verbal or written warnings, and in some cases, terminating employment contracts if the behaviour continues.

AceRota’s facial recognition technology allows employers to verify employees’ identities when clocking in or out, thereby preventing colleagues from clocking each other in and thus reducing instances of ‘buddy punching’.