Time tracking
What is time theft?
Time theft is being paid for time not worked, through padded timesheets, early punches, long unrecorded breaks, or buddy punching.
Most of it isn't malicious. Rounding a 7:52 arrival up to 8:00 in your head, forgetting to clock out for a long lunch, reconstructing a foggy week on Friday. It adds up in the same direction every time, which is why estimates from memory always cost more than a real punch record.
Treat it as a systems problem rather than a character problem. An accurate clock, a clear break policy, and a timesheet employees review before approval removes most of it without turning the workplace into surveillance.
Handle this automatically
Kloqk is a free employee time clock for small business. It records the punches, applies your rules, and does this arithmetic for you.
Related terms
Buddy punching
Buddy punching is one employee clocking in or out for another, which pays for hours nobody worked.
Punch rounding
Punch rounding adjusts clock times to a set interval, commonly the nearest 15 minutes, and is only lawful if it is neutral and doesn't shortchange employees over time.
Timesheet
A timesheet is the record of hours an employee worked in a pay period, used to calculate pay and to prove compliance if you are ever audited.
General information for US employers, not legal advice. Wage and hour rules change and vary by state, so confirm specifics with your state labor agency or counsel.