How a Facility Management Company Eliminated Non-Billable Overtime Pay Using CloudApper hrPad

“Another $10,000 in unapproved overtime?” Samantha, the VP of Operations at MetroClean Services, shook her head at the payroll report. The numbers were rising again. Despite all efforts, the company was leaking money through unauthorized hours that couldn’t even be billed to clients.

With over 300 maintenance and janitorial staff working across public buildings, schools, and office complexes, time tracking was inconsistent. Some employees still relied on handwritten logs. HR was buried under correction requests. And worse, the majority of those extra hours weren’t even recoverable through client contracts.

Samantha knew something had to change. That’s when she introduced CloudApper hrPad, a smart tablet solution that helped MetroClean gain control of its timekeeping, compliance, and workforce accountability.

From Time Theft to Time Trust

In the past, MetroClean staff often clocked in using shared devices or with the help of coworkers. Buddy punching had become an invisible problem. It was hard to track and even harder to prove.

Once hrPad was deployed, employees began using facial recognition to clock in and out. This simple shift immediately eliminated time fraud. The company saw a rapid decline in suspicious overtime entries. Unauthorized hours dropped by more than 20 percent in the first three months alone.

Trust in time records improved, and managers had confidence that reported hours actually matched reality.

Every Minute Matters: Precision Timekeeping

Payroll inconsistencies used to be the norm. Field teams worked different shifts, some forgot to punch in or out, and others logged hours from memory.

With hrPad installed on tablets at each worksite, employees started submitting punches in real time. They could choose between facial recognition, a QR code, or a secure PIN. The system tracked breaks, shift times, and job transfers without any paperwork.

Employees had direct access to their own timecards, so mistakes could be spotted and corrected early. This streamlined payroll and brought non-billable overtime under control.

Compliance Isn’t Optional: It’s Expensive

MetroClean operates in multiple cities, each with its own labor laws. Compliance requirements for breaks, minor employees, and overtime vary from location to location.

hrPad helped bring structure and consistency. At the end of every shift, employees responded to simple attestation questions like whether they had taken their meal break. If someone answered “no,” their supervisor received an alert immediately.

By building these checks into the daily routine, MetroClean stayed ahead of potential violations. Labor audits became easier to pass, and the company avoided the heavy penalties that can come from overlooked regulations.

Empowering Frontline Workers With Self-Service

For field-based employees, HR support wasn’t always easy to access. Whether it was checking a schedule or submitting a PTO request, everything took time. And often, night shift workers had to wait until morning to get a response.

hrPad changed that completely. Through the same tablet used for time tracking, employees could now view their schedules, request time off, log missed punches, and explore internal job openings.

The solution also included a virtual assistant that could answer policy questions at any time. This gave employees independence and took a large burden off the HR team.

Shifting Culture Through Smart Engagement

One unexpected benefit came from the daily check-ins. After clocking out, employees were asked quick questions about how their day went, whether they had the resources they needed, or how satisfied they felt with their work.

These brief surveys helped MetroClean identify early signs of burnout or disengagement. Site managers began using this data to improve communication, shift assignments, and overall morale.

For employees, it was a reminder that their feedback mattered. For leadership, it was a valuable window into team health.

The Bottom Line? Results That Speak for Themselves

Within six months of introducing hrPad, MetroClean achieved:

• A 22 percent drop in labor costs

• Over $85,000 saved by eliminating non-billable overtime and buddy punching

• A 68 percent reduction in HR support tickets

• Stronger compliance outcomes and successful audit reviews

• A noticeable improvement in employee engagement and retention

Samantha reflected on the journey.
“We didn’t need to replace our entire system. We just needed a better way to connect our people to it. hrPad gave us control, saved us money, and brought our teams closer to the business.”

If your organization is losing money to non-billable overtime, the solution might be as simple as a smarter way to track time.