New timeclock system at work - "API Laborworkx" - VENT!

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

My hospital has a new clocking system "API Laborworkx" . It gives you the option of clocking in (and out) on a badge reader, telephone or on a computer. So far so good. But there are alot of drawbacks I see to this system as a whole. Bear with me as I try to explain

1. On the final day of the pay period, all staff need to verify that the hours they worked were accurate and sign off on the computer. If you forget to sign off for a pay period you will not be paid at all....even though your hours worked are documented in the system and your nurse manager had the final approval.

2. The computer system for API is very very difficult to use and not user-friendly at all - It may as well be written in ancient hebrew. The online tutorial is also a waste - it beats around the bush and the is very little information that hourly staff can use.

3. The system always gives your 72.00 hours of time worked. For example, If you worked 5 days and took a half day on your sixth day, the API system will subtract 6 hours from your paid leave account so you will automatically have 72.00 hours in your paycheck.

4. When floating to another department, you need to enter in alot of information into the system in real-time. For example...Enter special code 1: Floating - Enter Special code 2: - Home Unit/Department Enter Special Code 3: - Unit Floating to Enter Special Code 4: Time Lunch break --- all of this is for a simple floating transaction. And all of this must be entered in during each clocking in/clocking out.

5. The API system itself is very very fustrating.

Does anyone else utilize the API Laborworkx System?

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We have API at my hospital and it's really not that bad--I don't think the interface is NOT user friendly at all. The biggest downer it sounds like on your end is that they're making you guys sign off on your hours every pay period. We don't utilize that part of the program at least.

But you'll get used to the system--most of us double check our hours anyhow just to make sure we're being paid correctly. We just don't need to sign it off.

We also have to enter the various codes at the machine when floating. We have little laminated cards posted above the machines on each unit that specify the code to be used when clocking on that unit, so we don't need to remember the codes. Maybe suggest that at your work?

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Specializes in Oncology.

We have it and I HATE it.

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Specializes in LTC.

We don't have it and I wish we did. We still go by the old way of checking people in with a pen on a paper schedule. People stroll in 15-30 min. late and no one docks them. I bet if we had this type of system, people would come to work on time and not leave early many times. wink2.gif

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Specializes in Critical Care.
My hospital has a new clocking system "API Laborworkx" . It gives you the option of clocking in (and out) on a badge reader, telephone or on a computer. So far so good. But there are alot of drawbacks I see to this system as a whole. Bear with me as I try to explain

1. On the final day of the pay period, all staff need to verify that the hours they worked were accurate and sign off on the computer. If you forget to sign off for a pay period you will not be paid at all....even though your hours worked are documented in the system and your nurse manager had the final approval.

2. The computer system for API is very very difficult to use and not user-friendly at all - It may as well be written in ancient hebrew. The online tutorial is also a waste - it beats around the bush and the is very little information that hourly staff can use.

3. The system always gives your 72.00 hours of time worked. For example, If you worked 5 days and took a half day on your sixth day, the API system will subtract 6 hours from your paid leave account so you will automatically have 72.00 hours in your paycheck.

4. When floating to another department, you need to enter in alot of information into the system in real-time. For example...Enter special code 1: Floating - Enter Special code 2: - Home Unit/Department Enter Special Code 3: - Unit Floating to Enter Special Code 4: Time Lunch break --- all of this is for a simple floating transaction. And all of this must be entered in during each clocking in/clocking out.

5. The API system itself is very very fustrating.

Does anyone else utilize the API Laborworkx System?

We had it at my last position and I can clear up a couple of your gripes.

#1 is a facility choice. We never had to go in and sign off. So blame your hospiotal for that one, not the system.

#3 is also a facility choice. Again, don 't blame the system.

#2 i didn't find it hard at all to understand it was much more user-friendly than the old system we had.

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Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

We have API and as the previous poster stated, many of your frustrations are associated with the manner in which your employer has chosen to use the system. While we have access to view our clockings online, we don't sign off on it or enter in lunch and breaks. If we work below the number of hours we're supposed to, we have to go in on our own to request using vacation time to make up the shortage of hours; it doesn't happen automatically. When floating, we do have to enter the cost center of the unit floating to, but not all the other stuff you mentioned. We do have to enter our vacation time online or you receive no pay when you go on vacation, but many managers and appointed timekeepers in the hospital will do this for you or remind you to (though they really do not have to as it is our own responsibility).

It will probably just take time to get used to the system and for your employer to work out all the kinks. They just need to figure out what features to continue to use and which are causing more trouble than good.

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Specializes in ER, Medicine.

We use it, but none of us know anything about it except for the managers. All we are responsible for is clocking in and clocking out on a badge reader machine.

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Specializes in Home Health, Med/Surg.

How do you access it on a Mac? I can't view my hours unless I'm on a windows based system

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Specializes in Oncology.
We don't have it and I wish we did. We still go by the old way of checking people in with a pen on a paper schedule. People stroll in 15-30 min. late and no one docks them. I bet if we had this type of system, people would come to work on time and not leave early many times. wink2.gif

The way we use it we just type in what time we got there and left on the computer, so the strolling can still happen.

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Specializes in Oncology.
How do you access it on a Mac? I can't view my hours unless I'm on a windows based system

We can only access it at work, which is all Windows machines.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.
We can only access it at work, which is all Windows machines.
That's my gripe, I can't check my hours from home. I don't own any windows anything here :(
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Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

agreed with what others said. A few of your complaints are really facility related. It's not hard to use at all, in my opinion. In time, I'm sure you will be comfortable with it.

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