Time theft, solved

How to stop buddy punching

Buddy punching costs small businesses up to 2.2% of gross payroll. You can stop it without watching your staff — tie every clock-in to one phone and your shop's WiFi. Nothing to share, no face scans, no GPS.

Three checks that make it impossible, not just awkward

01

One phone per person

The first clock-in remembers a staff member's phone — that's device verification. A punch from anyone else's phone won't count for them, so covering for a late colleague stops working.

02

Shop WiFi only

Every clock-in records the IP address. With IP restriction on, punches from off your network — mobile data at home, or from the car park — are refused, so “I clocked you in” over text goes nowhere.

03

Add a tap on the wall

An NFC tag by the espresso machine means the phone has to actually be in the shop. QR is the fallback today and runs through the same checks.

Frequently asked

What does buddy punching cost a small shop?+

Research from the American Payroll Association found roughly 75% of businesses are hit by time theft, and Nucleus Research puts the cost of buddy punching at around 2.2% of gross payroll. On a small team that's real money every month.

Can I stop it without face scans or GPS tracking?+

Yes — that's the point. Device verification keeps everyone on their own phone for the day (one phone per person, and the check-out has to come from the phone that checked in), and IP restriction keeps clock-ins on your shop's WiFi. No biometrics, no always-on GPS — a punch made on a colleague's phone, or off your network, simply can't finish.

Won't this annoy honest staff?+

No. On their own phone, on the shop WiFi, clocking in is one scan or one tap. Nobody notices the checks unless they try to punch for a colleague.

What about forgotten phones or new devices?+

A manager clocks them in by hand, and it's saved with their name and a reason. A new phone needs nothing at all: the binding is per day, so the new one takes over at the next check-in.

Stop paying for hours nobody worked

Free for up to 10 active staff. Set it up before your next shift.

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