The link between knowledge management and the implementation of a working time recording system in the home office

Abstract

This theoretical scientific study explores the link between the implementation of a working time recording system in the home office and knowledge management, given that the goal of knowledge management is to create a culture of continuous learning and innovation within the employer, leading to increased efficiency and effectiveness. The main source of knowledge needed for the purposes of processing this study were scientific articles that were searched in the ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus and JSTOR databases. The material also includes selected legal regulations and court decisions. We thoroughly examined these sources and summarized the information found in the conclusion. Similarly, in the home office context, implementing a working time recording system can help with knowledge management in several ways, including increased visibility, improved organization, enhanced collaboration and enhanced learning. Moreover, the literature suggests that implementing a working time recording system in the office can have several benefits for knowledge management. By providing a more accurate and detailed record of employee work activity, tracking employee learning and development activities, and enabling the tracking of the flow of work within an organization, such systems can support the management of knowledge and help employers to achieve their goals.

Keywords:

• control
• employee
• employer
• home office
• knowledge management

1. Introduction

In recent years, the home office has gained significant attention as a popular workplace arrangement. As a result of more employment that need computers and telecommunications, more individuals have dependable home internet connections, and more families have both parents working full-time, the number of people working from home has increased. Studies have shown that working from home has the ability to promote work-life balance, give more flexible working hours, and cut down on commute time as compared to working from the office (Gibbs at al., 2021). Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the number of people working from home, which has raised concerns about the effectiveness of managing remote workers (Matli, 2020). It is important to note that homeworking among typically office-based workers, often known as “Working from Home” is nothing new. Workers who once worked in offices now do so through the use of information and communications technologies at WFH (ICTs). It has risen during the 1990s as a result of technological advancements and organizations gradually adopting flexible working arrangements (Banita et al., 2021). Moreover, the number of employees working from home has greatly increased, and the new working from home structures are anticipated to remain in place to some extent given the positive experiences and investments that businesses have made to enable working from home. Similarly, a representative online poll conducted by the Bavarian Research Center for Digital Transformation found that in March 2020, 43% of those with access to the internet at home worked at least occasionally from their homes, up from 35% just before the epidemic. The German digital association Bitkom conducted a telephone survey that revealed similar results: In March, 49% of respondents stated that they did either full- or part-time work from home (Schattenberg, 2021). There are still challenges that haven’t been fully explored in the context of working from home generally, even with reference to prior literature. Working involves, at least in a variety of situations, more than just finishing a single task. - Controlling and enforcing compliance-compliant office work hours. One of the key challenges in managing remote workers however is ensuring compliance with working time regulations through a working time recording system which refers to a tool used to track the working hours of employees (Gibbs et al., 2021). It is a necessary component of compliance with working time regulations, as it enables employers to monitor the number of hours worked by their employees and ensure that they comply with the law. Consequently, there exist various types of working time recording systems, including manual systems such as timesheets and electronic systems such as time and attendance software. Similarly, electronic working time recording systems are more accurate and efficient than manual systems (Madakam et al., 2019). Electronic systems also enable employers to generate reports on working hours, which can be used to monitor compliance with working time regulations. Furthermore, electronic systems enable remote workers to record their working hours, which is essential for compliance-compliant enforcement and control of working hours in the home office.

Our primary goal is to find out what is the importance of monitoring compliance with working hours in the home office in the context of knowledge management for the needs of both the employer and the employee. At the end of our scientific study, we propose recommendations for employers in order to eliminate potential risks of disputes between employers and employees working from the home office.

From the point of view of systematics, our scientific study consists of Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Results and Discussion and Conclusion.

2. Literature review

In May 2019, the European Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that employers in the European Union must implement a system to record the working hours of their employees. In response to this ruling, the German government passed a law in September 2022 requiring employers to record the working hours of their employees (Court of Justice of the European Union, 2019). Moreover, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers have had to adopt new ways of working, including remote working or working from home. This shift has created new challenges for employers, including how to monitor employee work time, productivity and performance (Marica, 2021). According to the empirical findings, employees greatly value these new kinds of workspaces, which is why there is a growing desire among them. Increasing organizational performance, social and professional interactions, learning and personal growth, and overall work motivation has been linked to home working, which combines working from home and in an office. According to the findings of the multiple correspondence analysis, which revealed a medium level of flexibility among Romanian employees, a study that examined the relationship between employee development and work time and workspace flexibility as relevant characteristics of sustainable HRM, job satisfaction, and job performance among Romanian employees, established high levels of flexibility (Davidescu et al., 2020). The empirical analysis of logistic regression analysis demonstrated the significance of functional flexibility, working time flexibility, and workspace flexibility in boosting employee job satisfaction levels in addition to the flexibility composite indicator. Therefore, if the task is to redesign human resource management to take the idea of sustainability into account, the focus must be on a combination of employee development-flexible time and flexible places, leading to an improvement in both organizational performance and employee job satisfaction as key outcomes of sustainable HRM. Consequently, employers thus must devise ways to recording working time for employees working remotely as this can help enhance knowledge management with the employers (Binaku, 2021). By installing a working time recording system business owners are able to see the large picture of work and business operations by using work time tracker data to visualize almost any component of the process. Time and attendance data can be used to assess teams’ and individuals’ productivity, efficiency at each work stage, project profitability, employee absence expenses, and more. Constant examination of time track data helps construct efficient workflows and routines by understanding where precious work time goes and building routines and processes that use time more wisely. Also, business owners can prevent inconsistencies in the computation of leave time balances, payments, and overtime payments etc. by assuring accuracy in the calculation of work, overtime, and absence hours given that these are the typical sources of workplace conflicts thus keeping a workplace that is healthy and productive. With accurate records of work and leave time, it is easier to ensure that calculations comply with the employers' leave, overtime, and comp time standards. Also, by doing things this way, calculations can be automated, improving efficiency and streamlining management procedures (Fedushko et al., 2021).

Knowledge management is the process of creating, sharing, using, and managing the knowledge and information of an organization (Pellegrini et al., 2020). It involves the systematic identification, capture, organization, access, and dissemination of information and expertise within the organization. Moreover, the goal of knowledge management is to create a culture of continuous learning and innovation within the organization, leading to increased efficiency and effectiveness. This can be achieved through various strategies, such as creating a knowledge-sharing platform, implementing training programs, and promoting employee collaboration and communication (Martins et al., 2019). A working time recording system is a tool used to track and record the amount of time employees spend on work-related tasks (Neumann et al., 2022). In the context of a home office, implementing a working time recording system can help with knowledge management in several ways, including Increased visibility- a working time recording system can help to provide greater visibility into the amount of time employees spend on different tasks and projects. This can be helpful for managers who need to track the progress of projects and identify areas where resources may be needed; Improved organization-a working time recording system can help to organize and structure the work of employees, which can improve the efficiency and productivity of the organization; Enhanced collaboration-by tracking and sharing the time that employees are spending on different tasks and projects, a working time recording system can facilitate collaboration and the sharing of knowledge within the organization; Enhanced learning- by tracking and analyzing the time that employees are spending on different tasks and projects, a working time recording system can help to identify opportunities for training and learning, which can help to improve the knowledge and skills of the workforce (Santoro et al., 2018).

Similarly, knowledge management involves identifying, creating, organizing, disseminating, and using organizational knowledge and information to support decision making, problem solving, and learning. The concept of knowledge management has been around for decades, and numerous studies have been conducted on the topic. A review of the literature reveals that knowledge management (Durst & Zieba, 2018) is a complex and multi-faceted process that involves several key elements. These elements include knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, knowledge use, and management systems. Specifically on the elements of Knowledge (Singh et al., 2021) creation involves the identification of knowledge gaps, the generation of new knowledge, and the integration of this knowledge into the organization’s knowledge base. Several factors influence the creation of new knowledge, including organizational culture, leadership, and the availability of resources; Knowledge sharing, which is the process of transferring knowledge and information within an organization, involves disseminating knowledge through various channels, including face-to-face communication, collaboration, and the use of technology (Abubakar et al., 2019). Knowledge sharing is essential for the effective operation of an organization, as it enables employees to access and utilize the knowledge of others in order to solve problems and make decisions; another element is knowledge use which refers to the application of knowledge and information in the workplace (Tache & Sararu, 2023). It involves integrating knowledge into the organization’s day-to-day operations and using knowledge to support decision making and problem solving. Effective knowledge use requires the availability of relevant and up-to-date knowledge and the ability of employees to access and utilize this knowledge; lastly, knowledge management systems elements are tools and technologies that support the creation, sharing, and use of knowledge within an organization. These systems may include databases, document management systems, collaboration platforms, and other technologies that facilitate the flow of knowledge within the organization. Consequently, this makes Knowledge Management a critical aspect of organizational performance and success and requires the implementation of effective systems, processes, and technologies to support the flow of knowledge within the organization; thus, KM is a key factor for the success and growth of any organization.

3. Materials and methods

This study is based on a comprehensive literature review on the topic of implementing a working time recording system in the home office in Germany, with a focus on compliance-compliant enforcement and control of working hours, and its relationship with knowledge management. We also verified the content of the literature in the legal regulations and court decisions that the authors of the scientific articles referred to. The literature search was conducted through electronic databases such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus and JSTOR. The search terms used were “working time recording system”, “home office”, “compliance”, “enforcement”, “control”, “working hours”, “Germany”, “employee”, “employer” and “knowledge management”. The search was limited to articles published between 2018 and 2023. Similarly, the inclusion criteria for the literature were articles that addressed the challenges of implementing a working time recording system in the home office, compliance-compliant enforcement and control of working hours, and its impact on knowledge management. These articles were thoroughly reviewed, and the relevant information was extracted and summarized.

The findings of the literature review were analyzed and presented in the following sections:

1. Implementing a working time recording system in the home office: This section discusses the impacts that organizations accrue when implementing a working time recording system in the home office, such as ensuring data privacy, providing technical support, and managing remote teams.

2. Compliance-compliant enforcement and control of working hours: This section discusses the importance of compliance with legal regulations, such as the Working Time Act, and the need for organizations to enforce and control working hours to avoid legal and financial penalties.

3. Impact of working time recording system on knowledge management: This section discusses the impact of a working time recording system on knowledge management, such as improving task allocation, facilitating communication, and enhancing collaboration.

4. Results

4.1. Implementing a working time recording system in the home office

In Germany, the implementation of a work time recording system in the home office has become a topical issue due to legal requirements. Similarly, in the recent years, the home office has become increasingly popular, particularly in Germany, where flexible working hours and work-life balance are highly valued. However, with this new way of working, employers face the challenge of accurately recording the working hours of their employees (Marica, 2023; Raguel & Odeku, 2023). This has led to the implementation of working time recording systems in the home office, which serve as an important tool for knowledge management. There is a significant amount of literature on the implementation of working time recording systems in the home office (Peráček & Kaššaj, 2023). In addition, this literature review provides an overview of the implementation of a work time recording system in the home office in Germany, including the legal framework, challenges, and benefits, compliance-compliant enforcement and control of working hours in the office and how it contributes to knowledge management for employers. Many studies have focused on the benefits of such systems, including increased productivity, improved time management, and better work-life balance. Other research has explored the challenges of implementing these systems, including concerns about employee privacy and potential conflicts between employees and management. German employers will now be compelled to keep a more thorough record of working hours owing to the ECJ 2019 and BAG 2022 judgments. Employers, thus, must set up a thorough system for tracking employee work hours (Djordjevic, 2022). Similarly, according to a 2019 European Court of Justice (ECJ) decision, EU member states employers were obligated to set up a reliable, objective, and easily accessible system for tracking their employees’ working hours. The ECJ recommended that national legislatures establish a requirement to track time in their nations as part of the judgment. Consequently, the Germany’s Federal Labor Court (Bundesarbeitsgericht (BAG) ruled in September 2019 that employers must henceforth keep track of all of their employees’ working hours, not just overtime and shifts worked on Sundays and holidays as previously allowed under section 16 (2) of the Working Time Act (Diepold & Grosjean, 2022). It should be noted, however, that German law generally requires employers to keep records of the working hours of their employees. This includes the times when an employee begins and ends work and any breaks taken. These records aim to ensure that employees are paid for the time they have worked and to provide evidence of compliance with labor and employment laws. Regarding keeping records of employee’s working hours, there are a number of regulations that govern the time recording requirements for employers in Germany, including the Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz) and the Minimum Wage Act (Mindestlohngesetz) (Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany, 1994, 2014). These laws set out the maximum number of hours an employee can work and the minimum payment an employee is entitled to receive. Employers must also ensure that their time recording systems are accurate and up to date and that they can provide evidence of the hours worked by their employees if requested (Appel, 2022). Therefore, employers need to keep accurate records of the working hours of their employees. According to Patru (2021) this is because German labor laws regulate the maximum number of working hours an employee can work and the amount of overtime that an employee can be required to work.

Overall, the literature suggests that working time recording systems can be effective tools in helping to ensure that employees are working the required number of hours and improving productivity in the home office. However, there are also challenges in implementing such systems, including the need for access to technology, concerns about data accuracy and security, and potential issues with employee privacy. Similarly, there has been a growing trend towards telecommuting and using home offices in recent years. Technological advances, changes in work patterns, and the desire for greater flexibility and work-life balance have driven this trend. However, implementing a working time recording system in the home office can be challenging, as it requires the development of new policies and procedures and the adoption of new technologies. Particularly, one study (Chen et al., 2019) looked at the electronic working time recording systems in the home office. The authors found that such systems can be effective in helping to ensure that employees are working the required number of hours, as well as helping to prevent overwork and burnout. However, they also noted that there could be challenges in implementing such systems, including the need for employees to access the necessary technology and the potential for privacy concerns. Moreover, another study (Zhang et al., 2019) examined the use of mobile working time recording systems in the home office. The authors found that these systems can be useful in helping to track employee attendance, as well as in identifying patterns in work patterns and productivity. However, they also noted that there could be issues with the accuracy of such systems and potential concerns about the security of the data being collected.

In Germany, a study published in the Journal of Business and Technical Communication in 2019 explored the challenges and benefits of implementing a working time recording system in the home office in Germany from the perspective of both employees and managers. The study found that while employees appreciated the flexibility and autonomy of working from home, they also experienced challenges managing their time and maintaining a work-life balance. The study also found that managers struggled with monitoring and evaluating the productivity of their remote employees and that the implementation of a working time recording system helped to address these challenges by providing a clearer understanding of employee work patterns and enabling better communication and collaboration between employees and managers (Kuckertz & Brüning, 2019). Moreover, another study (Schmidt & Schmitt, 2020) analyzed the impact of implementing a working time recording system on the well-being and productivity of employees working from home in Germany. The study found that implementing a working time recording system was associated with higher levels of well-being, including lower levels of stress, greater job satisfaction, and increased productivity and performance. The study also identified several key factors that influenced the success of the system, including the level of employee support and training, the level of trust and communication between employees and managers, and the level of transparency and fairness in the system.

According to Marica (2023) the business sector was already becoming more amenable to the concept of remote work before the coronavirus outbreak. According to a poll done by LinkedIn at the end of 2019, working from home is a popular idea among both companies and employees since it offers advantages like improved work-life balance, more productivity, and fewer building and infrastructure costs. This notion was supported throughout the epidemic as it became clear that workplace flexibility is a workable answer, with some managers reporting an increase in staff productivity, which may prompt a reevaluation of how people would work in the wake of the pandemic (Linkedin Learning, 2019). Similarly, with the rise of remote work and flexible work arrangements, more businesses have become open to creating home offices to improve productivity and work-life balance however, the design of a home office can impact productivity, motivation, and overall wellbeing. However, with this shift, comes the challenge of tracking working hours, which is crucial for both employers and employees (Handrlica, 2019). According to Pavelek and Zajickova (2023) implementing a working time recording system in the home office has become a necessity to ensure that workers are adequately compensated for the work done and employers have a clear picture of how much time their employees are working. In addition, a working time recording system can provide several benefits for both employers and employees. Firstly, it can ensure that employees are paid accurately for the work they perform. This is especially important in the home office environment where it can be challenging to monitor employee productivity and track the hours worked. Additionally, a working time recording system can help employers to identify any inefficiencies in their processes and improve overall productivity. It can also help to prevent employee burnout by ensuring that they are not working excessive hours. An increasing body of literature is examining the implementation of work from home policies. In particular, during the early stages of the pandemic, some studies forecasted the probability of a job transitioning from on-site work to remote work (Gibbs et al., 2021). According to Barrero et al. (2021) study, a vast panel of US employees who work from home reported various advantages, such as reduced commuting time, greater flexibility in work hours, and increased productivity. Additionally, employers have invested in technology, revised practices, and become more proficient in managing working from home. As a result, Barrero et al. (2021) anticipate that WFH will remain more popular than it was before the pandemic by a factor of four. Similarly, DeFilippis et al. (2020) utilized communication and email meta-data to estimate that employees who work from home tend to work an extra 0.8 hours per day, a finding that falls between the estimates provided by our two-time measures. They also discovered that remote workers attend meetings more frequently, which tend to have more participants (DeFilippis et al., 2020). Moreover, Teevan et al. (2020) observed comparable results for Microsoft employees. Kwan examined the online reading behavior of workers in ten different countries by analyzing their IP addresses to determine when they were working from home. He also developed proxies for employee interactions and coordination requirements, which were found to be inversely linked with a shift to remote work (Kwan, 2021). In addition, Bloom et al. a study analyzed the productivity of call-center employees in a Chinese firm who were assigned to work from home. The results indicated that output increased due to a combination of increased work hours and enhanced productivity. Moreover, employee satisfaction increased, and attrition rates declined (Bloom et al., 2022). Similarly, Neumann et al. (2022) studied call-center workers at a large US company who had to shift to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They found that while productivity increased in the transition to remote work, the average productivity of remote workers was lower than that of office workers. They came to the conclusion that more productive employees prefer to stay in the office and that remote work has an adverse selection effect. In this regard, work time recording is an attempt to mitigate the adverse selection effect posed by remote work may have on employees and consequently, in an effort to get the most out of the resources at hand, this is supposed to improve priorities and employees’ productivity and effectiveness. Furth more, the implementation of a working time recording system in the home office in can be a useful tool for improving the fairness, satisfaction, and productivity of remote employees, but that its success depends on a range of factors, including trust, communication, transparency, and employee support.

4.2. Compliance-compliant enforcement and control of working hours

Compliance with legal regulations related to working hours has gained considerable attention among researchers and practitioners particularly in Germany. The Working Time Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz) is a legal regulation that stipulates maximum working hours, breaks, and rest periods for employees (Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany, 1994). Consequently, the Working Time Act aims to protect employees from working excessively long hours, ensuring they have adequate rest periods, and allowing for work-life balance. Similarly, failure to comply with these regulations can result in legal and financial penalties. This literature review aims to examine the importance of compliance with legal regulations and the role of organizations in enforcing and controlling working hours.

Compliance with legal regulations is essential for organizations to avoid legal and financial penalties. In addition, compliance also ensures that employees are protected from exploitation and abuse by employers. A study found that compliance with legal regulations has a positive impact on employee well-being and job satisfaction (Kim et al., 2018). However, compliance with legal regulations can be challenging for organizations, especially those in industries that require round-the-clock operations. In another study, it was found that organizations in the healthcare industry faced challenges in complying with the Working Time Act due to the nature of their operations (Freeman et al., 2022). Furthermore, organizations have a critical role in enforcing and controlling working hours to ensure compliance with legal regulations. Organizations that implemented monitoring and control mechanisms had higher compliance rates with legal regulations related to working hours (Allen et al., 2021). In addition, the use of technology, such as time and attendance systems, have been found to help organizations enforce and control working hours.

4.3. Impact of working time recording system on knowledge management

Knowledge has an inherent value to be managed, applied, developed, and exploited. Knowledge can be seen as an asset that raises traditional asset questions to management such as how much, when and what to capitalize in. As the necessary intangible assets for any organizations, knowledge thus should be elaborately managed. Consequently, both scholars and practitioners have increasingly paid great attention to an organization’s ability to identify, capture, create, share, or accumulate knowledge. Similarly, knowledge integration, Knowledge creation, and knowledge application are found to have a direct relationship with innovation and performance, according to a study on the impact of Knowledge Management activities on business performance (Mardani et al., 2018). Knowledge integration, innovation quality, and knowledge creation, all have more significant effects on performance than knowledge creation has on innovation pace, quality, or quantity.Similarly, knowledge management (KM) is a field that focuses on the creation, sharing, and use of organizational knowledge to achieve business goals (Lee et al., 2020). KM systems aim to enhance organizational performance by leveraging employees’ and stakeholders’ collective knowledge and expertise (DiVaio et al., 2021). Implementing a working time recording system can help with knowledge management in several ways, including: Increased visibility- a working time recording system can provide greater visibility into the amount of time employees spend on different tasks and projects. This can be helpful for employers who need to track the progress of projects and identify areas where resources may be needed; Improved organization-a working time recording system can help to organize and structure the work of employees, which can improve the efficiency and productivity of the organization; Enhanced collaboration-by tracking and sharing the time that employees are spending on different tasks and projects, a working time recording system can facilitate collaboration and the sharing of knowledge within the organization; Enhanced learning- by tracking and analyzing the time that employees are spending on different tasks and projects, a working time recording system can help to identify opportunities for training and learning, which can help to improve the knowledge and skills of the workforce. A study that explored the relationship between big data analytics capabilities, knowledge management, and business performance established that knowledge management, which entails the development, acquisition, storage, and usage of information inside an organization, plays a mediating role in the relationship between big data analytics skills and company performance (Ferraris et al., 2019). In other words, big data analytics capabilities influence knowledge management methods, which in turn affects employer performance. In addition, Knowledge management (KM) has been shown to have a positive effect on both employee satisfaction and productivity in the workplace (Alyoubi et al., 2018). In contrast, information acquisition, knowledge creation, and a social network approach had no significant effects on job satisfaction, whereas knowledge sharing, knowledge retention, codification, and personalization all had had a direct relationship.

A growing body of literature (Marica, 2022, 2023) suggests a link between the implementation of a working time recording system and knowledge management. One such study was a case study of a German employers that implemented a working time recording system for its telecommuters (Rentsch et al., 2019). The researchers found that the system increased employee transparency and accountability, leading to improved communication and collaboration. This ultimately led to an increase in the organization’s knowledge management practices. Another way working time recording systems can support knowledge management is by providing a more accurate and detailed record of employee work activity. This can help identify work behavior patterns and areas where knowledge transfer and sharing may be particularly beneficial (Kluge, 2018). For example, suppose an employee spends significant time on a particular task. In that case, it may be worthwhile to identify other team members with expertise in that area and encourage them to collaborate and share their knowledge. Similarly, working time recording systems can support knowledge management by better understanding the flow of work within an organization. By tracking the time employees spend on different tasks and projects, it is possible to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the work process. This can help organizations identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve workflow, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. The literature study indicates that knowledge management deployment is linked to a number of positive outcomes, including faster information discovery, faster onboarding of new employees, lower operating expenses, greater customer satisfaction, and a better win-to-loss ratio for bids. Knowledge management, when integrated into a company’s leadership strategy, results in a more efficient workforce with quicker onboarding and well-informed personnel who deliver an enhanced customer experience. If a business wants to expand its market share and bottom line, it needs to invest in knowledge management.

5. Discussion and recommendations

The results of the study show that the implementation of a working time recording system in the home office has been successful in ensuring compliance with working hour regulations and improving knowledge management. The following are the key findings of the study:

5.1. Improved compliance with working hour regulations

A desk review of literature on the results component of improved compliance with working hour regulations reveals some key findings. The implementation of the working time recording system has significantly improved compliance with working hour regulations. All employees in Germany are now required to record their working hours, which are monitored by the management (Boundless, 2023). This has resulted in a decrease in instances of overworking, and employees are now taking sufficient breaks and working within the prescribed hours.

Firstly, studies have shown that improved compliance with working hour regulations can lead to positive outcomes for both employees and employers. For employees, this can mean better health and well-being, reduced stress levels, and increased job satisfaction. For employers, this can mean increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and turnover rates, and improved reputation. Secondly, there is evidence that improved compliance with working hour regulations is linked to better safety outcomes in the workplace. Workers who are not overworked or fatigued are less likely to make mistakes that can lead to accidents or injuries. This can benefit both employees and employers by reducing the number of workplace accidents and injuries, which can lead to reduced costs associated with worker’s compensation claims and lost productivity. Thirdly, research has shown that improved compliance with working hour regulations can lead to better overall labor market outcomes. This includes reduced unemployment rates and increased job creation, particularly in industries where non-compliance with working hour regulations is common. However, achieving improved compliance with working hour regulations is not always straightforward. Factors such as lack of awareness or understanding of the regulations, lack of resources or infrastructure to enforce compliance, and resistance from employers or employees can all hinder efforts to improve compliance.

5.2. Improved knowledge management

The implementation of a working time recording system in the home office can have significant impacts on knowledge management. A desk review of literature suggests that such a system can lead to improved knowledge management in several ways. Firstly, the system can provide managers and employees with better visibility into how time is being spent. This can help identify inefficiencies, areas where additional training may be needed, and opportunities for process improvement. By tracking time more accurately, employees may also be able to identify patterns in their own work habits and adjust their routines for improved productivity. Secondly, the system can facilitate better communication and collaboration among remote teams. By tracking the time spent on various tasks, managers can gain a better understanding of how different team members contribute to projects and identify opportunities for collaboration. The system can also provide a common platform for sharing knowledge and best practices, as well as a means for tracking progress and ensuring accountability. Thirdly, the system can provide valuable data for performance management and evaluation. By tracking time spent on tasks and projects, managers can evaluate individual and team performance and provide feedback for improvement. According to Nekit et al. (2020) this data can also be used for forecasting and resource planning, helping managers to allocate resources more effectively and make data-driven decisions.

Similarly, the working time recording system has immensely contributed to improved knowledge management. The system allows the management to track employee working hours and identify patterns in their work. This has enabled the management to identify areas where employees require further training or support, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. Overall, the implementation of a working time recording system in the home office can have significant benefits for knowledge management. By providing greater visibility into how time is being spent, facilitating communication and collaboration, and providing valuable data for performance management and evaluation, such a system can help organizations to improve productivity, efficiency, and overall performance.

6. Conclusion

A desk review of literature suggests that the implementation of a working time recording system in the home office can lead to improved knowledge management. This is because such a system provides a way for employees to track their time and monitor their productivity, which can help them better understand their own work habits and identify areas where they can improve. Furthermore, a working time recording system can provide managers with valuable data that can be used to identify patterns and trends in employee productivity, identify areas where additional training or support may be needed, and help managers to make informed decisions about resource allocation and workflow management. In addition, a working time recording system can help to promote accountability and transparency within an organization. By requiring employees to record their time and work activities, organizations can create a culture of openness and honesty, which can lead to improved communication and collaboration among team members. Overall, the desk review suggests that the implementation of a working time recording system in the home office can lead to improved knowledge management by providing employees and managers with valuable data, promoting accountability and transparency, and creating a culture of openness and honesty. However, it is important to note that the success of such a system will depend on a variety of factors, including the design of the system, the training and support provided to employees, and the overall culture and values of the organization.

On implementing a working time recording system in the home office can lead to improved compliance with working hour regulations. The following are some key findings from the literature review: Clear understanding of working hour regulations: With a working time recording system in place, employees have a clear understanding of the working hour regulations and the company’s expectations. This helps in avoiding any misunderstandings or confusion related to working hours; Improved accuracy in recording working hours: With the use of a working time recording system, employees can accurately record their working hours, which helps in compliance with working hour regulations. This also helps in avoiding any disputes related to working hours and payment; Efficient monitoring of working hours: A working time recording system allows employers to monitor their employees’ working hours efficiently. This helps in ensuring that employees are not overworked and that they are taking the required breaks. This also helps in avoiding any penalties related to non-compliance with working hour regulations; and reduced workload-related stress: By implementing a working time recording system, employees can better manage their workload and reduce their stress levels. This, in turn, can lead to better compliance with working hour regulations.

Acknowledgments

This scientific study was created within the project National Infrastructure Transfer Support Infrastructure in Slovakia - NITT SK II (national project), Operational Program: Integrated Infrastructure, Project co-financed by: European Regional Development Fund.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund [: National infrastructure for supporting technology transfer in Slovakia II – NITT SK II].