Bar-coded employee identification cards or badges replace clock cards and time tickets to collect payroll data and to measure the activity of workers and machines. If another bar coded label or tag is attached to each job and posted in each department, then charges for labor cost are automated as well. The worker uses the personal card or or badge to clock in and out at the beginning and end of the work day. When beginning or ending a task, a worker scans the personal card or badge and then scans one or more of the bar-coded labels or tags that identify the correct job or department.