Personnel Management System and Method Using Distributed Beacons

A personnel management system and method is disclosed. The personnel management system comprises beacons distributed around an employer facility to assist in tracking employee movement, automating punch-in and punch-out events, automating timecard record keeping, and providing navigation services within the employer facility. Detection of an employee in proximity to a particular beacon triggers a server system to log the time of the detection and update of the employee's timecard with a punch-in event, if confirmed by the employee. Similarly, detection of the employee later triggers the server system to log the time of the detection and update of the employee's timecard with a punch-out event. In some embodiments, the beacons interact with employee mobile phones via a BLUETOOTH protocol. Automation of these operations improves the accuracy and convenience of employee timekeeping while preventing some types of fraudulent behavior, thereby saving employers money.