Digital Timekeeping System
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Jefferson Parish Schools is the largest school system in Louisiana and the second largest employer in Jefferson Parish. With 6,400 employees at over 80 sites that spread from Grand Isle to Kenner, it's well past time to modernize the district's antiquated paper and pencil timekeeping system. JP Schools is in the process of implementing a new digital system that will make our schools and systems more safe, efficient and modern.
Safe
- Allows real-time monitoring & reporting of all employees in a building
- Aids in contact tracing or in cases of an emergency
Efficient
- Simplifies daily time management process
- Improves payroll processing time & accuracy
Modern
- Reduces waste with automated timekeeping approval processes
- Ability to review leave balances via mobile app
Training Materials
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For training resources and manuals, please see the links below. These will be updated as needed. For additional questions, please reach out to your timekeeper.
- Codified Digital Time Employee Handbook
- How to access the website or download the app
- How to record my time in Digital Time
- How to use the travel features
- How to sign in at a location other than your home base location
- How to transfer to a second base job
- How to transfer between base job(s) and extra duty
- How to request overtime
- How to request time off
- How to attach a scanned document to my timesheet
- How to review your time off balances
- How to review your timesheet
- How to do a timesheet change request
- How to submit your timesheets
Frequently Asked Questions (updated 12/15/22)
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What is the new system and how does it work?
We are using the UKG™ (Ultimate Kronos Group) for K-12 Time for School solution. Employees will use a finger swipe to utilize this biometric timekeeping system.
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Why are we making this change?
Upgrading to a digital timekeeping system has been long overdue for a district the size of Jefferson Parish Schools. Not only are we the largest school system in Louisiana, but we are the second largest employer in Jefferson Parish. We simply cannot continue to safely and efficiently operate a district of this size with an antiquated paper and pencil system. This modern system will help make our buildings and our administrative processes more safe, efficient, and accurate.
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How does this system improve efficiency?
This technology helps create time and attendance efficiencies so administrators, teachers, and staff spend less time on administrative processes and more time on academics and programs. As the largest school district in the state, we serve over 6,400 employees in more than 80 schools and administrative facilities. It’s long past time for an organization of this size and complexity to implement a centralized, electronic process for tracking employee time and attendance. The new centralized system will replace the outdated paper and pencil method of tracking employee time and attendance with a more reliable, easy to use, and cost-effective way of managing such employee functions as payroll, leaves, and overtime.
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How will this new system benefit employees?
The new system will allow employees the ability to view, manage and submit their own time-off requests online in real time, reducing the amount of needless paperwork from the classroom and workplace. You will submit your time off requests solely through the new system - no more paper or emails - and no more missed or misplaced requests! You will take an active role in tracking your own time and updating your schedule.
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What’s the ratio for machines on campus?
The foundation for the initial determination of clocks uses the basic formula. The number of clocks could vary from the below methodology based on other circumstances:
# of Employees
Estimated # of Clocks
49 or less employees
1
50 to 74 employees
2
75 to 99 employees
3
115 or more employees
4
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How does this system improve school safety?
The first priority in 2024 is to “Provide Safe, Healthy, and Modern Schools.” One of the cornerstones of maintaining a safe school environment is simply understanding who is inside one of our buildings at a given time. This is not possible with our current paper and pencil system. The new system will provide real-time information on the employees who are in a building in the event of an emergency or necessary contact tracing.
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Is there a mobile app available?
Yes. UKG offers a mobile app, UKG Ready. The functionality of the mobile app will allow employees to check their applicable leave balances, their real time worked, and request days off of work. All of these features can also be completed on the UKG website and wall portal. Click here for instructions on how to download the UKG Ready App.
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How does this system improve administrative accuracy?
Automated time management helps ensure employees are paid accurately and receive time off in accordance with labor laws, union agreements, and district policies. Manually tracking employee hours on paper timesheets can lead to compliance issues or unpaid time.
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Who decided where the machine got installed?
In May 2022, School Principals completed a survey which identified the number of entrances that staff use to enter and exit the campus and their first, second and third preferences for clock locations. After collecting this data, the technology team performed walk-throughs of the campus with school leaders to agree on the placement. The placement consideration used a combination of the survey results, distance for running network wiring and safety codes.
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What’s the process for requesting time off?
Employees will be able to use the UKG website, wall portal or UKG Ready app to request time off (Vacation, Non Work, Sick, Trauma/Bereavement, and Civic/Jury Duty). Employees needing to apply for a leave should contact the Human Resources leaves department to begin the process. Leaves are not initiated through the digital timekeeping system. Click here for instructions on how to request time off using the UKG website.
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Are staff able to sign-in and out at any time? What if someone is working late?
All employees should sign-in upon arrival and sign out upon departure. Additional instructions will be provided for employees that work at non-JPS facilities.
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What are the differences between salaried versus non-salaried employees?
All employees, regardless of exemption status, should sign in/out using a finger scan upon arrival and departure.
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What’s the process for someone to add in missed punches? Does the employee do it?
If employees have a missed punch, they need to initiate a timesheet change request through UKG (website, portal or app). Click here for instructions on how to initiate a timesheet change request.
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What’s the process for bus drivers checking in?
Bus drivers will be provided with a district iPhone. The iPhone will be used to log into the UKG Ready app to sign in and out. The bus attendants will also use the driver’s district provided iphone to sign in and out.
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Do staff have to check-in and out for lunch?
The system is designed around an employee’s schedule. A part of the schedule includes a standard lunch period. If the employee remains on campus all day, the system will automatically assume that the scheduled lunch break occurred. If the scheduled lunch break is incorrect, then the employee should contact the timekeeper to make adjustments for the day or to update the lunch schedule if the assigned one is incorrect.