Time Clock Usage

[Georgios]

Is it a good idea to have salaried workers use a time clock to keep track of there hours? What happens if hours on the time clock do not match hours recorded on the employee's check?

[Colten]

California labor law requires employers to keep accurate employee records and to make an employee's records available to him or her and to the State Labor Board upon request.

It is not necessary to use a time clock or computer to keep exact records of an exempt employee's time. However, consider the following:     1.  Just because you pay an employee a salary does not automatically make him or her a legally "exempt employee", and the Labor Board or a court may in the future determine that the work performed by the employee is non-exempt, and that the employee should have been paid hourly wages and overtime.  If you have not kept any records of the actual hours worked, you will have difficulty contesting whatever overtime is claimed by the employee.     2.  If you do decide to keep any written or electronic timekeeping records, DO NOT allow any employee to work "off the clock" and DO NOT change or allow any employee or supervisor to change or alter time records to eliminate overtime.  You must pay employees for all time that they work or are allowed by you to work, and false time cards are much worse than no time cards at trial.