Northwestern University taps Kronos Inc.

Northwestern University student employees may want to think twice about playing hooky from work, and that goes for university mascot Willie the Wildcat too (seen on the job at right).

That's because Northwestern has decided to use a work-force management software suite from Kronos Inc. of Chelmsford, and the suite's capabilities include tracking absenteeism.

According to Kronos, which provides technology that helps employers do such things as manage payrolls and employee time cards, its "Workforce Central" suite will help Northwestern "address the complexities of its unique workforce by effectively managing all student employees working multiple jobs at its campuses in Chicago and Evanston, Ill."

Such a task can be challenging because many students work multiple jobs under different supervisors and at different wage rates. But if done right, it can help the university to improve employee productivity and manage labor costs, the company said.

Kronos said its work-force management suite will also accurately track absenteeism for the university's 10,000-plus employees.

Last year, the company went private in a $1.8 billion acquisition by Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners LLC, a private equity firm with offices in San Francisco.

For additional Globe coverage of Kronos, click here.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)