The Problem
State agencies employ thousands of Idahoans to deliver essential services, but poor tracking of time and attendance wastes millions every year. Employees sometimes clock in without working, take excessive overtime, or work from home without clear accountability. Departments struggle with ghost employees, inflated overtime claims, and inconsistent reporting. This leads to higher costs for taxpayers, unfair burdens on honest workers, and reduced service quality in health clinics, corrections, wildfire response, and other critical areas. Current systems rely too much on self-reporting without strong verification, allowing inefficiencies to go unnoticed.
What I'll Do Day One as Governor
Sign an executive order directing state agencies to improve time and attendance tracking using existing tools and authority. Right away:
Direct all agencies to implement biometric or secure clock-in systems (such as fingerprint or badge scans) for on-site employees where practical, and require clear logging for remote work.
Mandate weekly or bi-weekly submission of aggregated time and attendance data to the Division of Human Resources, with random spot checks on high-overtime departments (such as Corrections and Health and Welfare).
Partner with the State Controller to post anonymized, aggregated time and overtime trends on Transparent Idaho so the public can see patterns and costs.
Launch pilots in three to five agencies (Corrections, Health and Welfare, Transportation) to test the new tracking and reporting, with results posted in ninety days.
Use savings from Budget Allocation, State Procurement and Contracts, and Agency Performance Audits reforms to fund the rollout of secure systems and training (no new spending).
This uses powers I already have under executive oversight of state agencies and existing personnel and financial management statutes. No new laws needed first.
How This Is Different From Now
Right now, time and attendance tracking varies by agency, relies heavily on self-reporting, and lacks consistent verification. Overtime and remote work are often poorly monitored, leading to hidden costs and unfair workloads on honest employees. This way adds real accountability through secure systems, random checks, and public visibility of trends. It enforces existing personnel policies more effectively, protects good employees, and redirects wasted dollars to frontline services.
What I'll Push the Legislature For
Easy laws to make it permanent:
Require statewide use of secure time and attendance tracking systems for all state employees.
Mandate public posting of aggregated overtime and attendance trends on Transparent Idaho.
Authorize random audits and penalties for chronic abuse of time reporting.
Allow agencies to redirect savings from reduced overtime and waste to employee bonuses or frontline equipment.
No big new spending. Savings from reduced waste and overtime cover any system upgrades or training.
How We'll Check It Works
We will keep it honest with:
Public postings of aggregated time, overtime, and cost trends on Transparent Idaho.
Regular audits of time records and overtime patterns by the State Controller.
Citizens Task Force to review trends, take tips from state employees, and recommend improvements.
Yearly report showing reductions in overtime costs, improved attendance accuracy, and savings redirected to services.
Everything open for anyone to look at and ask about.
Answers to Common Questions
Won't biometric systems invade employee privacy?
No. Systems will comply with existing privacy laws and only track work hours, not personal data. Employees can opt for badge or PIN alternatives if needed.
How do we protect good employees from unfair monitoring?
The focus is on patterns and high-overtime areas, not individuals. Honest workers benefit from fairer workloads and potential bonuses from savings.
Does this cost taxpayers more to implement?
No. Pilots use existing tools and staff. Full rollout is funded by savings from reduced overtime and waste.
What if an agency has legitimate reasons for high overtime?
The system shows context and trends. Agencies must explain spikes, and audits verify necessity. Savings still redirect to services.
How does this connect to the budget reform?
Better tracking reduces hidden costs and overtime waste, freeing up dollars for reallocations and protecting frontline services.
How does this connect to the workforce reform?
Accurate time tracking helps agencies fill vacancies faster by reducing reliance on overtime and temps, supporting fair-pay incentives.
How does this connect to agency performance audits?
Audits will verify time and attendance data, spot patterns of abuse, and recommend fixes to improve efficiency.
What about remote work and flexible schedules?
Remote employees log hours through secure systems. The focus is accountability, not micromanagement. Good performance is rewarded.
How will we know if it is working?
Public reports on Transparent Idaho will show overtime reductions, attendance accuracy, and savings redirected to services. Citizen tips help identify issues.
What if employees or unions push back?
The plan enforces existing policies fairly. Public data and employee input through the Citizens Task Force ensure transparency and fairness.