Time-sheet cheating creates unnecessary costs

About one in five hourly employees admits to cheating on their time sheets to receive extra pay from their employers, according to a new survey conducted by Harriss Interactive and commissioned by The Workforce Institute.

While it’s hardly a new problem for employers, the rate at which time-sheet cheating is happening should be raising a few red flags that the problem is growing.

Of those who said they admitted to cheating on their time sheets:

• 69% admit to punching in earlier or punching out later than scheduled
• 22% admit to adding additional time to their time sheet
• 14% say that they don’t punch out for unpaid lunches or breaks
• 5% admit to having someone else punch them in or out

About 35% of survey respondents said their employers use paper time sheets to keep track of employees’ time, a practice that could be putting companies at risk for significant payroll inflation.

Organizations that use manual time and attendance tracking systems generally run up unnecessary payroll costs of roughly 1.2% of their total payroll costs because of inaccurate application of payroll rules and human errors, according to a Nucleus Research report.

Remember, the survey only discovered how many employees “admit” to cheating on their time sheets at work, suggesting that the actual number of time-sheet cheats is much higher.

Fortunately, businesses can do something to fight unnecessary payroll costs by moving away from outdated or mechanical employee time-tracking systems. Automated time-tracking tools can prove to be significantly more efficient than any paper-based payroll system.

With the vast number of options out there, it’s possible for businesses of any size to find an automated time-tracking tool that fits their needs. From basic software systems that electronically track who’s on the clock or not, to more advanced solutions that turn any PC into a time clock station, automated employee time tracking can lower costs and reduce payroll errors.

Ensure hourly employees are being paid for the time they work and limit the risk of costly payroll mistakes by taking control with an updated timekeeping system.

Time-sheet cheating creates unnecessary costs

Access to technology keeps workers creative and efficient

The majority of U.S. workers place a high value on technology in the workplace, some would even take drastic measures to work for companies that value technology in the same way.

Almost 40 percent of workers would consider changing jobs to work for a company that is more committed to providing access to and training in the latest technology, according to a national survey commissioned by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA).

Key findings of the survey include:

• Four out of five workers said access to technology is important to their ability to be creative (78%) and productive (80%) at work.
• 80% of workers said that such technology gives their employer and edge in the marketplace.
• 39% of workers would consider leaving their current jobs for an employer that makes better use of technology with access to more up-to-date technology.
• 37% would contemplate a job change if better technology-related training were offered.

Retaining top performers is key to an organization’s success and is many times their top worry during a recession. Holding on to prized employees is a top concern for employers, even in today’s economy, according to a survey developed by Robert Half International.

Nearly four out of 10 (39%) of senior executives cited employee retention as their greatest staffing concern, according to the survey.

Another top concern included bringing in new employees (22%) along with productivity and employee morale (17%).

“Many firms are operating with lean teams in which every staff member plays a key role in the business, making retention a greater concern,” said Max Messmer, chairman and chief executive of Melo Park, Calif.-based Robert Half International. “Companies that lose top performers may not only experience declines in productivity but also incur significant costs in replacing these professionals.”

If your business is concerned with retaining top performers, maybe it’s time to take a look at the technology your employees are using to complete their daily tasks. Making an investment today to update your in-house technology and offer technology training may save you thousands of dollars in diminished productivity and the hardship of losing top performers in the future.

Access to technology keeps workers creative and efficient

Tracking attendance: Top reasons employees call in sick

An estimated 33% of employees have played hooky from the office at least once this year by calling in sick when they were well, according to CareerBuilder.com’s annual survey on absenteeism.

The majority of employers surveyed said they generally don’t question the reason for an employee’s absence. However, 31% have checked up on an employee who called in sick and 18% have gone as far as firing an employee for missing work without a legitimate excuse.

From the survey of more than 6.800 workers and 3,300 employers, CareerBuilder.com found the most common reasons for calling in sick, including:

• 9% wanted to miss a meeting, buy some time to work on an overdue project or avoid the wrath of a boss or coworker
• 30% needed to relax and recharge
• 27% went to a doctor’s appointment
• 22% needed to catch up on sleep
• 14% wanted to run personal errands
• 34% simply didn’t feel like going to work that day

Of the 31% of employers who checked up on an employee who called in sick:

• 71% required the employee to show a doctor’s note
• 56% called the employee at home
• 18% had another worker call the employee
• 17% drove by the employee’s home

"It’s in your best interest to be up-front with your employer and chances are you’ll get the time you need," said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder.com. "More companies today are moving toward a Paid Time Off system, giving employees more flexibility in how they categorize time away from the office. Employers are also expanding the definition of the sick day with 65 percent stating that they allow their team members to use sick days for mental health days."

Whether you require employees to have a legitimate excuse or not, tracking employee attendance can be one of the most burdensome and paperwork-filled tasks managers must deal with.

If you’re looking for a way to eliminate attendance paperwork and move to an electronic attendance tracking platform, we have a free webinar coming up that could offer a solution.

In our free, 30-minute “lunch and learn” presentation you’ll learn how unscheduled absenteeism affects your bottom line, the benefits of electronic recordkeeping and how software can help you get rid of employe attendance paperwork forever.

Software Basics: Track Attendance Electronically Like a Pro is sponsored by Gradience and created specifically for workplace software beginners interested in reducing unwanted paperwork and moving to a “greener” electronic solution.

Sign up today for Software Basics: Track Attendance Electronically Like a Pro on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 1 p.m., ET.

View upcoming webinars at G.Neil.com.

Tracking attendance: Top reasons employees call in sick