Is Christmas Eve a Holiday?

Christmas Eve is not a federal holiday, but many private sector businesses close all day or half a day on December 24. For those in retail, it's usually a busy working day as people shop for last minute Christmas gifts. Schools and other educational centers are usually closed, and public transit systems may run reduced services.

This year President Obama is giving federal employees Christmas Eve off. An executive order signed today closes all executive branch departments and agencies except where employees are needed for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need. Many past presidents have also given employees a holiday on Christmas Eve.

2013 federal and national holidays

Jeff Morrow
Virtual TimeClock Product Specialist
Redcort Software, Inc.

2012 Time Clock Software Year In Review

We had another busy year at Redcort Software in 2012. It's certainly been a year of growth. We relocated to bigger facilities and added another product specialist. We started 2012 with the release of Virtual TimeClock '12, our most ambitious and comprehensive update in a decade. We consolidated all the administrative functions in one window, added PIN based time clock access, multiple time zone support, and a new individual interface designed for single user workstations. We also added time clock payroll integration with QuickBooks for Windows. In the press, we received an impressive 4.5 out of 5 on our latest Macworld time clock review. We finished up the year with Virtual TimeClock '12 Release 2 that provided time clock integration with ADP Pay eXpert online payroll. We also announced compatibility with Apple OS 10.8 Mountain Lion, Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8.

I can't wait for 2013!

Jeff Morrow
Virtual TimeClock Product Specialist
Redcort Software, Inc.

Is the Day After Thanksgiving a Holiday?

Thanksgiving was fixed as the fourth Thursday in November by law in 1941. Since it's a federal holiday, all United States government offices are closed. The day after Thanksgiving is not a federal holiday, but it's still a day off for many companies and is often the largest shopping day of the year.

If you'd like to know when other upcoming federal and business holidays occur, take a look at our 2013 federal and business holiday calendars.

Jeff Morrow
Virtual TimeClock Product Specialist
Redcort Software, Inc.

When Is Veterans Day 2012?

Veterans Day falls on November 11 every year. In 2012, Veterans Day falls on a Sunday so it is observed on Monday, November 12.

November 11 is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice in 1918 which ended World War I and ceased hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany. November 11 was originally known as Armistice Day but was changed to Veterans Day in 1954. Redcort Software wants to honor and thank all military personnel who have served the United States or are currently serving.

If you'd like to know when other upcoming federal holidays occur, take a look at our 2013 federal holiday calendar.

Jeff Morrow
Virtual TimeClock Product Specialist
Redcort Software, Inc.

When to Fall Back 2012

Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends this Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 2:00am. For the US and its territories, DST is not observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and Arizona. For everyone else, it's time to roll back your clocks 1 hour. 

In the US, 2:00am was originally chosen as the time to roll clocks back because it seemed like a practical time to minimize disruption. The thinking at the time was that most people were at home at 2:00am and this was when the fewest trains were running. Times have certainly changed.

You may be wondering how the time change impacts your employee time clock software. For most users, there’s no impact at all. Virtual TimeClock records all time stamps from the computer running the TimeClock database or from an independent Internet time server. In other words, Virtual TimeClock records the time as reported by your computer. As long as your computer handles the time change automatically, Virtual TimeClock will always record the correct time for you. If you have worker shifts that cross the time change, you do need to manually add or subtract an hour for that shift, depending on the time of year.

Jeff Morrow
Virtual TimeClock Product Specialist
Redcort Software, Inc.

ADP Payroll Time Clock

Are you looking for an alternative to ADP's rather expensive time and attendance solutions? Well, we've had our sights on ADP for quite some time and I'm happy to announce that Virtual TimeClock '12 Release 2 supports integration with ADP Pay eXpert online payroll.  It's been our goal to provide a time clock link with the major players in payroll processing like ADP, Paychex, QuickBooks, PayChoice, SurePayroll, AccountEdge, and CheckMark Payroll. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes longer than we'd like to work out the details because the payroll companies don't always play nice and provide us with the information we need to hook up with their payroll solutions. But we've been patient and think Virtual TimeClock provides a cost effective solution to some of the more expensive subscription based time keeping systems that the above providers charge to partner with their payroll programs.

You can read all about the new ADP integration in our press release entitled Virtual TimeClock Integrates with ADP for Fast, Accurate Payroll.

Jeff Morrow
Virtual TimeClock Product Specialist
Redcort Software, Inc.

Seattle Mandatory Paid Sick Leave

Beginning September 1, 2012, the City of Seattle will require all but the smallest employers to provide paid sick leave to their Seattle employees. The sick leave rules under the new law may differ based on the size of the company's workforce. Time clock software can help you comply with several key rules of the new Paid Sick Leave law. Here's what you need to look for when researching time and attendance systems.

Paid Sick Leave Accrual - Time clock software that allows you to accrue leave time based on hours actually worked. For example, employees can earn at least one hour of accrued paid leave time for each 40 hours worked. We call this a calculated accrual.

Carryover of Unused Sick Leave Hours - Time clock software that allows you to keep separate track of unused leave hours that need to be carried over into the next benefit year. This should be separate from paid leave hours accrued during the current benefit year.

Our Virtual TimeClock software allows you to completely track all types of paid and unpaid leave, including both accrual and use. Download a free time clock software trial to check it out for yourself.

Jeff Morrow
Product Specialist
Redcort Software, Inc.

Need a Paychex Time Clock?

Are you looking for a time clock that works with Paychex payroll? I've recently heard that the Paychex time clock product called Time in a Box is not supported on Windows 7. If you're looking for a Time in a Box replacement, then give Virtual TimeClock a try. Virtual TimeClock is employee time clock software that runs on your Windows and Mac PCs, including XP, Vista, and Windows 7. We've got full time clock integration with Paychex Online Payroll and Paychex Preview. Check out our free time clock software download to get started.

Jeff Morrow
Virtual TimeClock Product Specialist
Redcort Software, Inc.

QuickBooks Time Clock

January is usually the busiest month of the year at Redcort Software and this year is no exception. The engineers are busy putting the finishing touches on Virtual TimeClock '12. I think it's going to be our most significant upgrade since Virtual TimeClock '09. The new administrative command center is awesome! It unites all the administrative tools under one password umbrella. I can also share with all you Intuit fans that Virtual TimeClock '12 will have time clock payroll integration with QuickBooks desktop for Windows. You'll be able to import hours from Virtual TimeClock directly into QuickBooks timesheets for easy payroll processing. Sorry Mac users, but QuickBooks for Mac doesn't allow importing into timesheets.

Be on the lookout for the Virtual TimeClock '12 announcement. It's right around the corner!

Jeff Morrow
Virtual TimeClock Product Specialist
Redcort Software, Inc.

2012 Time Clock Plans

While 2011 has been a productive year, I'm really excited about what's planned for 2012. At the risk of personal injury (engineers don't like it when I share what's on the drawing board), here are the time clock software features we're working on for 2012:

• Personal time clock client - designed for single user workstations with all the administrative functions removed for easy setup and use.
• PIN client for groups - designed for multi-user time clock stations with ID based access to provide more anonymity and make it easier to use with large worker lists.
• Administrative control panel - all the administrative functions consolidated under one command center.
• Security enhancements - challenge questions and biometric integration to completely eliminate buddy punching.
• Multiple time zone support - run time clocks in different time zones without the need for separate time clock servers.
• iOS apps - Iv'e seen the iPhone and iPad user interface mock ups, prepare to be blown away!

We'll keep you posted on new developments.

Jeff Morrow
Virtual TimeClock Product Specialist
Redcort Software, Inc.