Why not time cards that are punched by a machine? The tech to scan them in for payroll already exists, I'm sure. Reminds me of the push for replacing paper ballots for no good reason.
I know a factory in Chicago that still has huge time-card punching machine from the late 1800's. It's enormous, and looks like a cast iron wheel of fortune. Very cool.
Somehow the company has managed to function for 150 years without adding facial recognition to it.
We have the technology.
Having someone else clock in for your isn't always cheating. For example, leaving early so you can drop by the post office on your way home from work to drop off the company mail.
Or the opposite where my wife works: People will punch in for her because she has to go to an off-site meeting or event.