A guide to biometric data in the workplace

Biometric data is increasingly shaping how workplaces operate, offering businesses and organisations across various industries a means of improving security, streamlining operations, and enhancing the employee experience. From fingerprint scanners to facial recognition, biometric systems are becoming a key part of the modern workplace landscape.

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of biometric technology, its applications in the workplace, its advantages and disadvantages, and how businesses can integrate it effectively into their operations.

To have a deeper understanding on technology, have a read through our workplace technology guide.

Biometric data refers to the collection of unique physical or behavioural characteristics used to identify individuals. Common biometric identifiers include fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, voice recognition, and even behavioural traits such as typing patterns or gait analysis. These systems are designed to verify identity and grant access to buildings, systems, or secure areas and can often be found in workplaces, commercial buildings or high-security buildings.

Biometric data is primarily used for access control, replacing traditional methods like keys, swipe cards or PIN codes. Fingerprint scanners, facial recognition, and iris scanning are becoming common ways to secure physical entry points to buildings or restricted areas within a workplace. These systems ensure that only authorised personnel can access areas, reducing the risk of theft, unauthorised entry, or security breaches.

By using fingerprints, facial recognition, or other biometric data to track when employees clock in and out, businesses can ensure accurate timekeeping. This may also be used for break times and meetings and can be especially useful for large corporations where different departments may be working at different times. This is also beneficial for remote teams as it is a simple and effective way of tracking time and productivity.

These systems also streamline payroll processes, as time records are automatically integrated into payroll software, reducing the risk of errors, and administrative burden and helping to keep track of things such as over-time.

As remote work has become more prevalent, biometric systems are also being used for secure digital authentication. Employees can use fingerprint or facial recognition to access work systems, emails, and secure files from their home offices, reducing the risk of data breaches that can occur from weak passwords or shared credentials.

Biometric systems can also be used to manage visitors or contractors who need temporary access to your premises and also need to be logged for security reasons. Rather than relying on traditional paper-based systems or manual sign-ins, biometric data can quickly and securely register individuals, ensuring they are authorised to enter and reducing the likelihood of security setbacks.

Integrating biometric systems into your workplace should be done thoughtfully and carefully, especially considering that it affects the whole workplace. Here are some best practices to ensure a smooth implementation: