Busy holiday shifts can make it easier for working time to go unrecorded, making a careful review of your hours especially important.
The holiday rush can bring longer shifts, schedule changes, and extra demands during your workday. Comparing the hours you actually worked with what’s reflected in your time records and pay statements can help identify off-the-clock time you may not have been paid for.
Missing a few minutes of pay may not seem significant at first. But when the same thing happens shift after shift, those unpaid hours can add up.
Why Timesheets Matter More During the Holiday Rush
A busy shift can mean the hours you work and the hours recorded on your timesheet get out of sync. Just a thought When you’re juggling more tasks or working a different schedule, it can be easier for time to go unrecorded.
How to Audit Your Timesheet Step by Step
Reviewing your timesheet can help you spot missing or incorrect time. Here are a few things to check.
Compare Your Schedule to Your Actual Hours
Start with your schedule and time-clock records. Look for days when the times you clocked in or out don’t match when you actually started or stopped working. If you can’t remember your exact start or end time, timestamps on sent emails, calls, or building and parking access records may help.
If you identify a discrepancy, make a note of it so you can see whether the same problem shows up on other shifts.
Check for Time Before or After Your Shift
Next, think about work you may have done before clocking in or after clocking out. That could include setting up equipment, opening or closing a workplace, finishing paperwork, cleaning up, or responding to work messages. It could also include being asked to clock out even though you still have tasks to finish.
Review Your Paycheck Against Your Recorded Hours
Your timesheet and paycheck should tell the same story. Compare the hours on your time records with the hours shown on your pay statement, including any overtime.
What Is Off-the-Clock Work?
Off-the-clock work is work that isn’t recorded on your timesheet. It can include answering a work message after your shift, attending a pre-shift meeting before clocking in, or finishing a task after you have clocked out.
Even short periods of off-the-clock work can matter. Keeping track of that time can help you determine whether you were paid for it.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides federal wage-and-hour protections to covered workers. Many states and some localities have similar laws. Although some exemptions may apply in some circumstances, nonexempt workers generally must be paid for all covered hours worked.
Automatic Deductions
Some timekeeping systems automatically deduct time for meal periods or breaks. If the system deducts time for a break you didn’t get to take because it was interrupted with work, note what happened during your shift and keep a record of the discrepancy.
Common Timesheet Problems to Watch For
Timesheet problems aren’t always obvious. Your hours may be missing, changed, or reduced in ways that don’t match the time you actually worked. If something looks wrong, make a note of it and check whether the same problem appears on other shifts.
Timesheet Manipulation
Timesheet manipulation can happen when someone changes your recorded hours without your knowledge, tells you to report fewer hours than you actually worked, or asks you to record hours on another day or pay period. If you notice a change, keep copies of any records you have and make a note of when you raised the issue with your employer.
“Don’t Clock In Yet” or “Clock Out and Finish”
Sometimes, you may be expected to start working before clocking in or keep working after clocking out. Off-the-clock work can go unrecorded even though you are still performing job duties.
How to Document Unpaid Hours
If you think some of your working time went unpaid, write down what happened while the details are still fresh. Keeping the same kinds of details for each shift can make it easier to see a pattern.
Useful information may include:
- Dates and actual start and end times
- Work schedules and time-clock records
- Emails and text messages related to work
- Notes about work performed before clocking in or after clocking out
- Instructions from supervisors about when to clock in or out
- When and how you reported a problem with your hours
If you decide to speak with an employment attorney, consistent records can help them understand what happened and evaluate whether you may have a claim for unpaid wages.
What If Your Employer Changes Your Timesheet?
If your timesheet has been changed and doesn’t match the hours you worked, save a copy if you can. Make a note of what changed, when you noticed it, and any explanation your employer gives you.
If the change leaves out time you worked or you don’t understand why it was made, consider raising the issue with your employer and keeping a record of their response.
Protect Your Right to Unpaid Wages with Outten & Golden
Repeated off-the-clock work, missing hours, or changes to your time records may mean you haven’t been paid for all the time you worked.
If you believe you may be owed wages, an employment attorney can review your circumstances and help you understand your options. Contact Outten & Golden’s Unpaid Wages practice to learn more about how we may be able to help by calling our intake team at 877-468-8836. They are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Learn More About Off-the-Clock Work
This article is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and may not reflect the most current law or apply to your facts or jurisdiction. Reading this article or using this website does not create an attorney-client relationship with Outten & Golden LLP. You should consult a qualified attorney about your specific situation.
