The first sanctions for biometric registration
A recent judgment of the Superior Court of Justice of Galicia has condemned a company to pay more than 53,000 euros in compensation to a worker for forcing her to register her day by facial recognition. The resolution includes 7,500 euros for moral damages, as well as other labor compensations derived from the conflict.
The case highlights a key aspect: not all time control systems are legal. Biometric data (such as fingerprints or facial recognition) are considered particularly sensitive by the General Data Protection Regulation (RGPD), and their use in the workplace is only permitted in very exceptional and duly justified situations.
In addition, the Spanish Data Protection Agency and the Labor Inspectorate are increasing their vigilance on this type of practice. In some cases, the penalties can reach very high figures when it is considered that the time control system violates the privacy of the workers.
An increasingly digital and controlled time register
Since 2019, all companies are required to keep a daily record of their employees' working hours. However, the legal framework is evolving towards a much more digital, transparent and traceable model.
The new regulatory initiatives of the Ministry of Labor seek to strengthen time control with several key measures:
- Mandatory digital registration systems.
- Greater traceability of registered data.
- More simple access for the Labor Inspection.
- Detailed record of entries, exits and breaks.
The objective is to ensure that the hours worked are recorded correctly and to avoid abuses such as unpaid overtime.
How to comply with the regulations without using biometrics
Faced with this new scenario, many companies are wondering what is the best way to comply with the law without assuming legal risks or sanctions.
The answer is to use digital time registration solutions that do not use biometric data, but at the same time guarantee the authenticity of the registration and the traceability of the records.
Timenet: safe, legal and biometric-free time control
In this context, Timenet is positioned as a complete solution to manage your company's time register legally and efficiently.
The system allows:
- Register entries and exits from computer, mobile or tablet.
- Manage breaks, overtime and different types of work.
- Keep safe and traceable records for the time required by law.
- Facilitate data consultation for workers, managers and auditors.
- Easily adapt to face-to-face, hybrid or telecommuting teams.
All this without the need to use fingerprints or facial recognition, thus avoiding risks related to data protection.
Prepare today to avoid problems tomorrow
Labor and data protection regulations are evolving rapidly. Companies that continue to use outdated registration systems or that involve the use of biometric data may face sanctions, employee claims or legal disputes.
Therefore, adapting the time registration system as early as possible is the best strategy.
With solutions like Timenet, your company can comply with current regulations, improve working time management and gain transparency in the organization, all without compromising employee privacy.