Founded nearly 90 years ago by George Lathem and son Louie Lathem, Sr., Lathem Time Corporation is a leading designer and manufacturer of time and attendance solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, the company offers mechanical and automated employee time and attendance tracking systems, data collection terminals, synchronized wall clocks, and software.

For businesses with up to 50 employees and expandable to 150 employees, Lathem’s PayClock EZ system calculates worked hours and overtime automatically. Lathem Time states that automation through this system can reduce payroll preparation time by at least 50 percent and eliminates manual inaccuracies, saving up to three percent in payroll costs.

"It enabled me to better control my staff numbers and labor costs," notes Louis Bettencourt, a longtime PayClock EZ user at Quail Ridge Country Club in Massachusetts. "The reports are very helpful, especially for tracking payroll budgets and benefit accruals, including vacation and sick days." He adds, "The system helps you save money. The money you save in the first year pays for the system itself."

A new software upgrade, PayClock Time and Attendance Software Version 5 gives businesses greater control over their payroll and accounting with enhanced ease of use. For businesses already using a Lathem PC50, PC400, PC100, or TouchStation timekeeping system, the new features of version 5 are worth the upgrade. For those who complete payroll manually, now may be the time to consider investing in a fully automated timekeeping solution.

Hands On
With Lathem’s PayClock EZ system, a clock terminal captures employee work activity as they punch in and out with credit card-size, reusable, personal time cards. A quick software install brings PayClock Version 5 and its new features and enhancements to our PC.

Along with an updated Microsoft Office 2007-style interface, Lathem adds a number of performance and usability enhancements. Daylight Saving Time updates are now performed automatically.

A new In/Out Board allows managers to view employee arrival and departures through networked PCs.

With the updated software, companies can create custom fields specific to their business to track relevant employee information.

Since 2006’s upgrade of the system, PayClock EZ users have an expanded database for terminated and inactive employees. They can also add vacation hours or personal time off in advance. Paid breaks can be set up as well.

Employee payroll data is printed to reports and interfaced directly into a variety of payroll software options. Standard payroll interfaces include Automatic Data Processing’s ADP, Complete Payroll from Intuit Inc., Paychex from Paychex Inc., and—now in PayClock Version 5—QuickBooks 2008 from Intuit Inc. The Lathem timekeeping systems and software eliminate hand keying and calculations, and protect from manual errors.

Specifications
PayClock Version 5 software is PC compatible and runs on Windows XP or—new with Version 5—Windows Vista. It can be used with Lathem’s PC50, PC400, PC100, and TouchStation timekeeping systems.

For those looking to invest in a comprehensive timekeeping system, the PayClock EZ PC100 time clock is a four-pound device with a compact 6.375" wide x 7.375" high x 1.5" deep size. The clock features an optional wall mount bracket. Power consumption is 6VDC/300 mA. It has USB and Ethernet communications options.