Coworkers lying on their timesheet

[KandD]

I have a coworker that CONSISTENTLY lies on her timesheet. We work in a small office that is not directly supervised, our supervisor is at a different location. We brought this up to the supervisor (individually) about two years ago and nothing was done. Then another coworker brought it up again and she was accused of having it out for the coworker who doctors her timesheet.
It has gotten really bad lately, to the point that I go home angry at night and I want to just brush it off but I can't anymore. This coworker is now not just lying about her hours but giving herself overtime as well! So we are not talking about fifteen minutes here and there...it is HOURS.

Due to an old supervisor who pitted people against each other, our office was in shambles for a while and NO ONE wants to go through that again, including me, so we don't want to bring it up to the supervisor again. PLUS I don't think anything will be done anyway so we will just be more frustrated. BUT IT JUST ISN'T FAIR!! (I know, where is the cheese with my wine?)

Has anyone else been in this situation? What have you done?

 

[DrCavin]

Until Management cares, nothing you can do about it except enjoy some wine...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

2 questions:

This isn't billed to the govt is it? B/c if it is--it is fraud and illegal. (A private company, not so much---but the govt doesnt' take kindly to false charges for labor that never took place on their contracts with companies that do their work.)

Do you have an HR person that you can share this with? Not sure what they can do--but since the proper channels are not working, I'm just curious if you have another avenue.

Additionally--totally document. Why? Well, what happnes if they want to cut hours and "suzy" is such a hard worker--working all that overtime. So she gets pushed back to her regular 40 and then you or other workers, get cut to part-time. Wouldn't that stink!

And if I was gutsy, and if it wasn't against company policy and if her actions totally threatened the potential work atmosphere as in the govt example or cutting hours example--I'd be videotaping. But not at the expense of my own career.

My last employer (long ago) was did govt work, we had very very strict guidelines on completing time cards and due to our status--no photography/videotaping on campus. But those who commit fraud--wouldn't get away with it very long.

 

[NikitaZee]

I have a coworker that CONSISTENTLY lies on her timesheet. We work in a small office that is not directly supervised, our supervisor is at a different location. We brought this up to the supervisor (individually) about two years ago and nothing was done. Then another coworker brought it up again and she was accused of having it out for the coworker who doctors her timesheet.
It has gotten really bad lately, to the point that I go home angry at night and I want to just brush it off but I can't anymore. This coworker is now not just lying about her hours but giving herself overtime as well! So we are not talking about fifteen minutes here and there...it is HOURS.

Due to an old supervisor who pitted people against each other, our office was in shambles for a while and NO ONE wants to go through that again, including me, so we don't want to bring it up to the supervisor again. PLUS I don't think anything will be done anyway so we will just be more frustrated. BUT IT JUST ISN'T FAIR!! (I know, where is the cheese with my wine?)

Has anyone else been in this situation? What have you done?

Yes - an old co-worker of mine did the same thing. One of the folks in the office surreptitiously wrote the correct times next to the false ones on the time sheets. Our time-sheet cheat immediately changed her ways without a word - not sure if that would work for everyone, though.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

You may want to suggest to your boss to go out and buy a time clock that requires people to clock in and out. Like someone else said, until management cares, there is not much you can do but to document it for your own records.

 

[amyy]

Would this be like when I called today to another building to speak to someone and they said she was at my building for the afternoon? All I can do is be disappointed and figure what goes around comes around.

 

[MIGrandma]

Since you and others have already reported it to the supervisor and nothing was done about it I don't think there really is anything else you can do. Karma will get the employee who is lying on their timecard.

I noticed the same thing about one of my co-workers. She was supposed to work until 3:00, and that is what she put down on her timecard, even if she left early. A few minutes here or there doesn't seem like much, but over time it does add up. I never said anything because I knew nothing would be done about it.

 

[labdogs42]

I could overlook a few minutes here and there, but the overtime thing is way over the top! But, if the boss doesn't care, there sin't much you can do. Maybe try goign to HR or suggestiong a punch clock type system. That's all i can think of. Good luck.

 

[GeorgeG]

The company I retired from had a policy that included termination for any falsification of company documents, of which time sheets was one. Sometimes this could be a simple mistake and I would let it slide, but when it happens on a regular basis, even after explaining/warning the employee about it, it's termination time (falsification of documents and theft). I was usually more upset with my shift supervisors who were supposed to verify the time sheets before I got them for final approval.

For what it's worth, when employees accidently short-changed themselves on time sheets I would correct them so they didn't lose money... and still smack the supervisor who let it slip by.

 

[Snoozan]

I could have written the OP's post myself, on my old job. We had a couple of co-workers who constantly did this - us "old-timers" got so upset and the manager did nothing. When a couple of the team brought it up to the building manager - THEY were the ones reprimanded. That is one reason I'm glad to no longer be working in that job. My new job is with a small company where it looks like all the workers are very dedicated - they hardly ever leave their desks!

 

[tluvstink]

I work in a small office and worked with someone who did this. Even though she did a good job she was fired. How can you trust someone who is basically stealing?

Terri

 

[christineann]

This was rampant in our office. Some staff members came in around 9 or 10, took over an hour for lunch and left by 3 or 3:30. The same 3 or 4 of us were in the office every Friday afternoon after 2, and we got stuck taking phone calls from clients who wanted to know why Mr. Smith didn't have any staff there. These same staff members took 4-5 smoke breaks a day.

We gently complained (and I think some clients did, too), and we now have a time clock software on our computers. Prior to getting that, my boss asked me what I thought about it and said that he hated to have to police the actions of adults, and I told him that I thought the time clock system would motivate some employees to be more honest. One staff member didn't come in one day and insisted that she had come to work, gone to lunch, returned and later left for the day but forgot to clock in and out each time that day

Frankly, I see little difference between cheating on your time sheet and walking out with an office computer. Stealing is stealing.

If your office doesn't want to invest in the software, the administrator might consider asking the employees to send him or her an email when they arrive, take lunch and leave for the day.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would just mind my own business and go on my merry way- I don't care what any of my co-workers do- just what I do.

 

[kellyg403]

I would just mind my own business and go on my merry way- I don't care what any of my co-workers do- just what I do.

In most cases I totally agree with this statement. I usually don't feel like I am the moral police, what goes around comes around etc.

HOWEVER!...this type of thing can not be let go, it needs to be brought up to HR. Every raise you are denied because the company is finding ways to save money, your co-worker is getting through stealing. Every time a budget comes around and you are unable to purchase what your office needs or they become very strict on things, your co worker is finding a way to line her pocket at other employee's expense. Period.

Stealing and cheating equal a lot of things for everyone and most of the time they are not good. I have some co workers that complain and moan everytime the auditor comes around. Not me...I like the auditor. His job is to protect my employer and my bonus, 401K and raises. One person in every department stealing what amounts to hundreds of dollars a pay period has to wash out somewhere.

Kelly

 

[pepperw23]

I have a coworker that CONSISTENTLY lies on her timesheet. We work in a small office that is not directly supervised, our supervisor is at a different location. We brought this up to the supervisor (individually) about two years ago and nothing was done. Then another coworker brought it up again and she was accused of having it out for the coworker who doctors her timesheet.
It has gotten really bad lately, to the point that I go home angry at night and I want to just brush it off but I can't anymore. This coworker is now not just lying about her hours but giving herself overtime as well! So we are not talking about fifteen minutes here and there...it is HOURS.

Due to an old supervisor who pitted people against each other, our office was in shambles for a while and NO ONE wants to go through that again, including me, so we don't want to bring it up to the supervisor again. PLUS I don't think anything will be done anyway so we will just be more frustrated. BUT IT JUST ISN'T FAIR!! (I know, where is the cheese with my wine?)

Has anyone else been in this situation? What have you done?

I want to give a managers perspective. This is kind of long.

First and most important, the time sheet cheater needs to be corrected. If you are working on a Government contract or in any other Federal capacity, she is breaking the law and if the company is turning a "blind eye" they too are breaking the law (because they are getting paid based on her hours...not too honest imo).
Either way, she is stealing from the company and it is managements job to take corrective action. Period.

That being said. Honestly if I were your manager I would probably have a few concerns about the rest of the staff too. Just something to keep in mind..another perspective:

It sounds like there is a lot going on in your office, including some bickering, gossiping etc... and there is some past history there as well.

You mention 3 employees that have had some sort of access/interaction to this woman's time sheet. That brings up two questions: 1. Why are they looking at her time sheet and 2 How do you know about it? This is an issue for the manager in itself (gossip, employees teaming up on another...could be possible harassment charges...this stuff gets ugly).

My advice to you? Separate yourself completely from the gossip. Refuse to discuss it or hear it discussed. Then, you and you alone, go to the supervisor (I would email but be careful how you word it stick to the facts and only the facts you can back up), explain the rumors, explain what you know as fact and then drop it. Completely. It may seem like the manager is not doing anything but there may be a lot going on that you do not see. Evidence has to be gathered before such claims can be made...etc. Or you could be right and your Manager just does not care. In that case at least you have documented your concerns and have separated yourself from the situation. If nothing else it will save your sanity. Good luck to you.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I have a coworker that CONSISTENTLY lies on her timesheet. We work in a small office that is not directly supervised, our supervisor is at a different location. We brought this up to the supervisor (individually) about two years ago and nothing was done. Then another coworker brought it up again and she was accused of having it out for the coworker who doctors her timesheet.
It has gotten really bad lately, to the point that I go home angry at night and I want to just brush it off but I can't anymore. This coworker is now not just lying about her hours but giving herself overtime as well! So we are not talking about fifteen minutes here and there...it is HOURS.

Due to an old supervisor who pitted people against each other, our office was in shambles for a while and NO ONE wants to go through that again, including me, so we don't want to bring it up to the supervisor again. PLUS I don't think anything will be done anyway so we will just be more frustrated. BUT IT JUST ISN'T FAIR!! (I know, where is the cheese with my wine?)

Has anyone else been in this situation? What have you done?

While I agree with the Manager's perspective, I keep coming back to the fact that something HAS been said about it already and management has taken the stance of looking dimly on the person speaking up about it. I've been in these situations before and, based on my experience, there's really very little you can do about it except keep your eyes on your own job, do the work, and get out at the end of the day. Try not to dwell on the unfairness.

When I was younger, I "fought the good fight" and spoke up about things like this. In some cases things were done to curb the stealing. In other cases, I was accused of being a trouble-maker and the workplace became a holy hell for me.

As I've aged, I've discovered a golden rule that has kept me in good stead: speak up once, then forever hold you peace no matter what.

If anyone says to me after it's finally "discovered" that the employee was a no-good, lying, cheating, backstabbing witch, I can honestly say that I mentioned my observations two years ago (or two months ago) but either no one believed me or they didn't want to do anything about it. It takes patience, but the bad-willed employee will always be found out. Always.

The last employee I knew of who was like this kept her ruse up for about three years. She made herself friends with the boss, got away with not having to answer calls like the rest of us, and spent most of her time gossiping with key people. I mentioned her behavior once to the boss (her "friend") and then let it go and focused on my own work.

When other co-workers would complain about her behavior, the boss would have them and the accused employee into her office to discuss it. The accused employee would actually start crying and that would be the end of the discussion. This happened several times over the course of three years.

I left the company a few years ago, but kept in touch with a co-worker who I was friendly with. During lunch last year, I found out that not only had the bad-willed employee been laid off because her metrics were so out of whack with everyone elses, the boss got demoted and someone else was hired to run the department.

So you see, it all works out. It just takes patience and turning your attention to a more personal goal. You can always stand up for justice, but if no one is going to take action on the behavior that's costing the company money then there's really nothing you can do about it. Life isn't fair.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I think people like this always trip on themselves. She is getting bolder because she is getting away with it. The more she gets away with, the more she will do. That will be her undoing. Kind of like that old saying, "Give them enough rope...".

You did what you could do. Don't stress about it. Just know the bolder she gets, the sooner she will be stopped. Every company has a line that "shan't be crossed". She's crossed several that most companies would fire for. I imagine she's almost at the finish line.

 

[christineann]

The problem with ignoring it is that the work that should be done by the cheaters falls upon those who do work a full day. Friday afternoons I got behind on my own work because I was having to answer telephone calls for the MIA coworkers, pull and review files I had never worked on and call clients back to give them the information they requested. I worked until 7 pm one Friday night although I had out of town company arriving at 7:30 because an attorney had an emergency filing in a federal case, and his staff had sneaked out the back door at 3.

The time software has been wonderful and has relieved the burden on those of us who didn't cheat. I still help out other attorneys whenever asked, but at least the absent coworker isn't on the clock while I'm doing her work.

The person who claimed to have forgotten to clock in and out (on days when when she actually didn't show up for work) was fired. That was just one of the reasons.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Yes - an old co-worker of mine did the same thing. One of the folks in the office surreptitiously wrote the correct times next to the false ones on the time sheets. Our time-sheet cheat immediately changed her ways without a word - not sure if that would work for everyone, though.

That's one way to address it. Wait till the end of the week and put the actual times in pen beside the person's falsifications. It would be interesting to see what would happen after that.

Maybe that's not the best way to handle it, but it doesn't hurt to think about doing it!

 

[Mickey's Minion]

I have a coworker that CONSISTENTLY lies on her timesheet. We work in a small office that is not directly supervised, our supervisor is at a different location. We brought this up to the supervisor (individually) about two years ago and nothing was done. Then another coworker brought it up again and she was accused of having it out for the coworker who doctors her timesheet.
It has gotten really bad lately, to the point that I go home angry at night and I want to just brush it off but I can't anymore. This coworker is now not just lying about her hours but giving herself overtime as well! So we are not talking about fifteen minutes here and there...it is HOURS.

Due to an old supervisor who pitted people against each other, our office was in shambles for a while and NO ONE wants to go through that again, including me, so we don't want to bring it up to the supervisor again. PLUS I don't think anything will be done anyway so we will just be more frustrated. BUT IT JUST ISN'T FAIR!! (I know, where is the cheese with my wine?)

Has anyone else been in this situation? What have you done?

Just a thought - is your job the type that might have some aspects that can be done at home?

I know that I had a few employees that enjoyed staying up late at night, logging in and doing some work. Because of that, they would take 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there as comp time. Their time sheets would reflect that they had spent the whole day there, however, I was well aware of the work at home.

Since this was an agreement with just a few workers that I trusted to actually work at home, it was not announced nor was it really any of the other employees business.

If they complained to me, I would just thank them and tell them that I was aware of the situation and agreements were in place.

It is/was not the duty of the employees to play manager and supervise their fellow employees. Supervisors/Managers are often way more aware of what is going on than their employees give them credit for.