New Site Access Restriction Features in Tensor.NET Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting us all, we want to reassure you that the health, welfare and safety of our staff and customers remains our top priority.

This is why we have designed two new features for our Tensor.NET Time and Attendance & Access Control software suite:
• an option to restrict employees from being able to gain access through doors or use the Tensor Clocking Terminals if they are absent in self-isolation until the end of the self-isolation period.
• new software records for employees marking their COVID-19 status (i.e. tested positive and recovered, vaccinated, etc.)

New Site Access & Clocking Restriction Feature in Tensor.NET for Employees who Self-Isolate

The new feature is designed to help employers make sure that employees who are self-isolating follow Government advice and do not attempt to come into work – and risk spreading the SAR-CoV2 virus that causes COVID-19 to their co-workers.

It is available as a new option on the absence code screen for “Lock Employee on Use”. If this is ticked and a sickness absence is booked for the current day, either via the Tensor.NET absence planner or the Self-Service Module (SSM), then the employee locked flag will be set on the employee record.

As a result, the Tensor hardware (door controllers, clocking terminals, etc.) will be updated to not allow access on site or clocking at the terminals.

However, employees who work remotely while self-isolating will still be able to clock-in using the Tensor Self-Service Module or SSM Mobile app.

The employee will only be allowed to access the company site or clock again using the clocking terminals once the locked flag has been manually cleared on their employee record. This will happen only after the employer has confirmed the employee has followed the proper health & safety procedures and can safely return to work.

New COVID-19 Software Records for Employees

While there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding COVID-19 and its long-term effects, the general consensus is that once a person has recovered from the illness and tested negative, they are safe to return to work and posses a higher level of immunity to the virus.

For this reason, we have also developed new software records for employees marking their COVID-19 status – i.e. not tested, tested negative, tested positive and recovered, vaccinated (when a vaccine will eventually become available).

This will help employers better manage their workforce and plan ahead (shifts, rotas, access patterns, etc.), especially in the case of a virus resurgence later on.

Changes at Tensor to Mitigate the Effects of COVID-19 and Ensure Business Continuity

Following the Government’s recent announcement, we have made some important changes to the way we work in order to make sure we are looking after our people, our customers, and doing the right thing for the nation.
• All of our employees who can work from home currently do so.
• When required, our engineers travel to site in individual vehicles and are supplied the necessary PPE equipment to ensure their own safety and that of our customers.
• We have also put in place very strong measures for the skeleton staff required to attend site to ensure business continuity, enabling social distancing and minimum contact during working hours.

We will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 and adhere to Government recommendations. We will not waiver from providing best-in-class service for our customers, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to ensure customers do not experience a change in service levels or response times as a result of this virus. Should you have any further questions as to how we are responding to the pandemic, please do not hesitate to contact us.