All you need to know about the EU’s Time Tracking Law

In less than a week, starting from 1st of July, Danish businesses will be required by Danish law to implement an objective, reliable, and accessible system to track employees' daily working hours.

These changes in Danish law originate from the 2019 European Court of Justice ruling and are closely linked to the EU's Working Time Directive of 2003.

What is the 2019 European Court of Justice ruling about, and why was it made?

As in the Danish law, the European Court of Justice ruling requires employers to establish systems to measure the duration of time worked each day by each employee. This ruling was made to ensure compliance with the EU's Working Time Directive (2003), which aims to protect employees’ health and safety by guaranteeing adequate rest periods and preventing excessive working hours. The decision to make the use of a time reporting system mandatory came to light to address concerns that without accurate tracking of working hours, it would be difficult to enforce these protections and ensure fair working conditions across the EU.

What are the benefits of using a time tracking system for employers and employees?

Implementing a time tracking system not only supports compliance with EU regulations and local labor laws but also contributes to a more productive workforce, a safe and fair work environment, benefiting both employers and employees.

Benefits for employers:

• Helps ensure compliance with laws and regulations
• Provides accurate documentation in case of disputes or audits
• Facilitates better resource allocation and planning
• Streamlines payroll processes
• Reduces administrative workload
• Reduces errors in payroll calculations

Benefits for employees:

• Ensures accurate payment for their work
• Fosters trust and transparency between employers and employees
• Promotes a healthy work-life balance
• Safeguards against exploitation

What does the 2019 European Court of Justice ruling mean for businesses across the EU in practice?

One thing is clear: Businesses across the EU are required to implement an objective, reliable, and accessible system to accurately track employees' daily working hours. While the European Court of Justice has mandated this requirement, individual EU member states have the authority to integrate and define its specifics within their local labor laws.

For example, based on the upcoming Danish legislation, merely tracking employees' working hours during their employment isn't sufficient. Documentation must also be retained for five years after employment termination.

In essence, businesses must be mindful that compliance with the 2019 European Court of Justice ruling will vary based on the specific details outlined in their respective local labor laws.

How can Timezynk help your business to be compliant with EU regulations and local labor laws?

Timezynk is a flexible and robust workforce management system that accurately tracks employees' time and more.?

By using our software you will be able to track:

• daily- and weekly rest periods
• breaks
• reported time
• contracted time

What is more, your historical data will be safely stored for future reference and both you and your employees will have all the information readily available anytime and anywhere.

Do you want to know more? Book a quick 15 minute call with our Customer Success team here.