Taking on new starters this season? Office managers can build a verified attendance record from new starters' very first day using digital time and attendance software. This gives managers the objective data they need for probation reviews. TimeKeeper logs start times, finish times, and any absences automatically, so that when a probation review comes around, you have a complete, factual record of attendance rather than relying on a manager's recollection.

This season is one of the busiest times for new starters in UK office-based businesses. Graduate intakes, new intake of apprentices, and seasonal roles that ramp up alongside the return to office all converge to make HR teams busier than ever. Getting those onboarding processes right, like including time and attendance tool from day one, directly affects how many of those new starters are still with the business three months later.

The Employment Rights Act 2025, which came into force from April 2026, has raised the stakes for accurate attendance records from the very first day of employment. New starters now have day-one entitlement to Statutory Sick Pay, day-one paternity leave, and day-one unpaid parental leave. This means the attendance record for a new employee is hugely important from the moment they start. An office that cannot confirm a new starter's attendance pattern from week one is an office that may face unnecessary issues if any of those entitlements are triggered early in employment.

Probation Reviews: Why Attendance Data Matters

Most office employers operate a three or six month probationary period for new starters. At the end of that period, a review takes place. The review should be based on performance against agreed objectives, quality of output, and attendance and punctuality record. In practice, the attendance element of probation reviews is often the weakest because offices don't have a way of tracking new starter attendance and rely on the manager's impression instead.

The problem with relying on impressions rather than data is that impressions are subject to bias and memory error. A new starter who had two late arrivals in week two but was impeccably punctual for the following ten weeks may receive a more cautious probation outcome than their actual record warrants. This is because the late arrivals are what the manager remembers. Conversely, a new starter who has been consistently thirty minutes late may escape scrutiny if the relationship with their manager is positive.

Fully tracked attendance records eliminate this bias entirely.

What a Good Onboarding Process Looks Like

When they arrive on their first morning, they log in to the TimeKeeper app and their attendance is recorded from the very first minute. The HR team and line manager both have visibility of the new starter's record from day one, without any manual timekeeping on spreadsheets or notebooks required.

Using an efficient timekeeping and attendance tool in the office signals to new starters that the business takes attendance and punctuality seriously. New starters who are told on day one that the business uses a GPS-verified time and attendance system understand that professionalism is expected and that their record is being built from the start. This sets a clearer expectation than a verbal instruction to 'be on time' and is considerably more effective than trying to address punctuality issues retrospectively in month two.

How TimeKeeper Supports Office Employers During Autumn New Starter Intake

• Day-One Attendance Recording: New starters are added to TimeKeeper before they arrive and clock in on their first morning, building an attendance record from the very first day of employment, in line with Employment Rights Act 2025 requirements.
• Punctuality Tracking: TimeKeeper logs start times, finish times, and any absences automatically. Late arrivals are recorded with an accurate timestamp, providing the objective data needed for probation review conversations.
• Manager Dashboard Visibility: Line managers can see their new starters' attendance records in real time through the TimeKeeper dashboard, giving them the current picture without waiting for HR to compile a report.
• Absence Records: Any absences, including early-employment sickness absences that may now trigger day-one SSP, are logged and recorded with dates and duration, providing a clear record for payroll and HR.
• BrightPay Payroll Integration: Attendance data for all new starters transfers to BrightPay, ensuring accurate pay from week one and automatic calculation of any SSP entitlements that arise early in employment.

New starters represent an investment in your team's future. TimeKeeper helps you protect that investment by giving you the attendance data to manage probation effectively, pay accurately from day one, and demonstrate to new employees that your business operates professionally.

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