What is a Punch Clock?
A punch clock is a timekeeping device which is used to record data about when employees arrive at and leave work. The data from a punch clock is utilized during payroll to determine how much each employee should be paid. This data may also be inspected by officials who enforce labor laws, looking for signs that employees are staying beyond legal working hours. There are two components to a punch clock: the clock itself, and the “time card” on which data is recorded in a process known as punching or punching in. Traditionally, data was recorded on punch cards, paper or plastic cards which were physically stamped or punched by the clock, and punch cards are still used in some workplaces today. Modern time cards also come in a variety of guises, including cards with magnetic strips which are swiped through a punch clock, and wireless fobs which are waved at the punch clock. In all cases, the goal of the time card design is to ensure that data about the employee’s work habits is recorded c
