Protect Your Bottom Line with Employee Accountability Tracking

Studies consistently find that supported, accountable employees tend to excel in their work, are more productive, and are actually happier. That is because building real, full accountability is not done by instituting punishments. Improving employee accountability is actually about building an environment that provides proper guidelines for everyone to understand what is expected of them and what is expected of their colleagues. It also provides the tools for everyone to carry out their jobs as effectively as possible alongside each other. 

In short: accountability is really about culture. Culture building can be hard work, but it must not be complicated. Often the trick is to follow clear best practices and have the right accountability tools for the workplace available for workers and business leaders. 

This article explores how employee accountability tracking is a win-win for organizations and employees, how you can conduct accountability tracking for key and equipment use in a transparent way, and details some of the most useful technologies and best practices you can use.

What are smart lockers?  

This article explores how technology can play a role alongside reliable policies and training programs to improve employee accountability. One particular technology we want to highlight is smart lockers, which organizations can use to manage keys and equipment. 

Conventional storage lockers are designed with a singular purpose: to ensure the security of stored equipment and keys. Obviously, that is an important task, but that is all of which they are capable. 

Lockers become smart when you integrate computer monitoring systems into them. These accountability systems in the workplace can track the key and equipment use, including when workers borrow or return assets and how they utilize them. 

Implementing a smart equipment management system allows these time-consuming tasks to be automated and employees to be held more accountable as all transactions are fully tracked and thoroughly logged. These accountability solutions are also highly adaptable. You can use them to implement new processes and management activities and streamline existing business operations.

Why does employee accountability matter? 

Accountability is someone’s willingness to take ownership of their decisions and actions. Accountability grows from a foundation of trust. In the workplace, which means trust between coworkers, supervisors, and employees, and between the wider institution and all the people that keep it running. 

Building better employee accountability will:

1. Improve productivity.
2. Increase morale and job satisfaction. 
3. Foster a culture of continuous improvement.
4. And boost workforce enablement—your employees’ self-sufficiency

High levels of accountability can occur organically in particularly tight-knit teams, but it only comes with top-down initiative. But when employees see the benefits of just such an employee accountability tracking initiative for themselves and the organization, they tend to take on a self-perpetuating life of their own. For instance, managers who involve employees in policy planning and goal setting typically find that employees have a clearer understanding of their expectations, possess greater confidence in their ability to meet those expectations and perform at a higher level. 

Most importantly, positive results arise when employees do not solely associate accountability with negative repercussions. When employees are unafraid of failure, receive recognition from managers for their achievements, and are supported by managers during challenging goal pursuits, they are more inclined to demonstrate creativity, innovation, and dedication in their work.

The pillars of good employee accountability tracking 

Your staff accountability efforts will only be successful if you build a solid culture of accountability within your organization. That culture rests on three pillars of employee accountability tracking: technology, policies, and education. 

Learn More: Everything You Need to Know About Physical Asset Tracking Systems

Best practices for employee accountability tracking 

Knowing the pillars of good employee accountability tracking will only take you so far. The hard work is in applying them the right way within your organization. As we said at the outset, building a reliable culture of accountability is hard work. But it can be straightforward if you follow a few tried and true best practices. 

Make performance measurable   

If you want organized, systemized accountability, it is essential first to determine the metrics or behaviors that you intend to monitor. Accountability also entails addressing the consequences of subpar performance within your team. Determine what will count as ‘accountable’ within the context of your organization. And tie it to something measurable. 

For example, accountable key use might involve setting key signout curfews to help ensure keys are available to all staff members. And set consequences for repeated late key returns. 

Track equipment usage         

Remember, the goal of establishing a culture of accountability is not to enforce punishment. It is to improve morale and efficiency. That takes constant, steady feedback. And constant feedback requires constant measurements. 

Gain insights into your employees’ key and equipment utilization by tracking signout frequencies, duration, and user information. In the event of loss, having a record of the last user, time of usage, and location provides valuable information for investigation and recovery.

Track maintenance issues     

Part of accountable key and equipment use is ensuring those assets are in working order for the next person in line. Your accountability tracking should allow employees to make life easier for their colleagues. Give them the resources to easily report losses, fault codes, tracking employee errors, calibration issues, and other repair needs. Automating warranty and lifecycle tracking can also inform maintenance schedules.

Smart lockers are an excellent tool for this type of tracking, and they can even facilitate maintenance workflows. For example, you can configure maintenance compartments in each locker that unlock when a user reports a problem. They deposit assets there, and the system sends an automated alert to technicians that it needs to be retrieved for servicing. The locker system does not allow other users to access it. Only an authorized technician can unlock that locker, so the device does not accidentally end up back in circulation.  

Employee accountability tracking can have far-reaching benefits 

Building a self-sustaining culture of accountability can be challenging, but when you can get there, the benefits are far-reaching and long-lasting. It takes technology, policy, training, and lots of hard work to get there, though. 

Any organization looking to build a culture of accountability should consider what tools they need to help get them there. Smart lockers are some of the best options on the market for conducting employee accountability tracking. They are customizable for any organization's specific storage needs and workflows. 

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