Recording working time in the European Union : How Companies can Balance Control and Flexibility

On May 14, 2019, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued a ruling that will affect all employers in the European Union. The decision requires EU member states to impose more detailed timekeeping requirements for employers. The judgment has generated extensive commenting among the European Union’s member states and employers because it seems to mandate a return to punch-the-clock timekeeping at a time when many employers seek to offer flexibility and autonomy to all types of workers. In this article, we will examine how the ruling will lead to changes in national law, how companies can adjust their timekeeping strategies, and other challenges that may arise from the change.