Along with millions of workers transitioning to working from home, another workplace shift amidst the coronavirus outbreak is the avoidance of finger- and thumb-biometric scanning to mark staff attendance.
Companies have adopted technology that tracks the entry and exit of staff for years through finger scanning or access cards. Now, as COVID-19 alters the way we work and live for an unforeseen amount of time, organizations are suspending biometric attendance as reports have found that the virus can live on surfaces for hours or even days.
While the fear of illness through using finger scanning is evident, even tapping access entry cards on common surfaces has posed a risk.
This means that companies need to reevaluate the way they record attendance and entry-exit procedures now and in the future. While punctuality is vital, the health and safety of staff is even more so.
These factors are pushing corporations to implement facial recognition technology with the addition of temperature scanning. Utilizing this technology can help staff avoid contact with germ-riddled doorknobs and notify management when someone has a high temperature and should not enter the building.
In countries where facial recognition software could pose a privacy concern, voice recognition can be used to allow staff to record their attendance.