Facial Recognition FAQs

TimeKeeper offers an optional facial recognition feature that adds an extra level of accuracy and security to employee time tracking. When enabled, each clock-in and clock-out is compared to the employee’s profile photo to confirm their identity, helping ensure time entries are legitimate and reliable.

Why is facial recognition used?

• Prevent buddy punching: Ensures employees can’t clock in or out for someone else.

• Increase trust in time records: Provides stronger verification to reduce disputes or uncertainty around attendance.

• Strengthen accountability: Supports accurate time records for internal policies or labor requirements.

• Streamline oversight: Automatic mismatch alerts help administrators identify potential issues quickly without constant manual review.

How does it work?

Whenever an employee first clocks into TimeKeeper, their first photo will be used as their profile image, provided it contains a face. Their next clock entry will compare that image versus their profile image via facial recognition to verify that the employee matches the employee in their profile photo. If the system detects that the employee is not a match with their profile photo, a violation will be raised for the administrator to review.

How do I turn this on?

In the web portal if you go to Account > Settings > Clock Entry Settings > here Facial Recognition can be enabled > Scroll to the bottom of the screen & save.

What is meant by the "Facial Recognition Threshold"?

The Facial Recognition Threshold is the minimum match score the system needs to decide that two face images belong to the same person. At TimeKeeper, we recommend setting this to 80%.

An 80% threshold gives the system enough flexibility to recognise someone even if their appearance changes slightly - for example, if they grow a beard, wear different glasses, or change their hairstyle.

I only want this to be in place for some employees. Is this possible?

Yes, you can skip Facial Recognition on an employee by employee basis. In the employee profile, under the 'Access & Permissions' tab there's the option to 'Skip Facial Recognition' as shown below.

Can I change my first clock in photo that TimeKeeper uses as a reference?

Yes, this photo can be reset or changed by an admin in the employee's employee profile. In the image below, you can see the options to "Profile Photo Set", "Reset Profile Photo" and "Choose Existing Images".

How long are facial recognition images visible within the time entry screens or timesheet reports in TK?

Facial recognition photos are stored for the duration of the account.

If you have any further questions on the above, don't hesitate to reach out to us at support@timekeeper.co.uk

Updated on: 18/11/2025