[Depressed-Fiance]

I'm looking for some advice please.

Two of my colleagues have been falsifying their timesheets at work and it is starting to bug me. I only notice because I am observant and not because I am nosey.

Basically it works by you enter the time that you enter each day and the time that you leave.

For example, they are adding around 15 minutes extra to their timesheets making it look like they've worked longer than they actually have.
So say they enter at 12pm and leave at 4pm, they'll note on the sheet that they left at 4:15pm.

I know for a fact that that this is going on and to be honest I'm finding it harder to 'bite my tongue' on this subject.

So, plainly put, would you report them to HR or just let it go?

I'm an honest person and this amount to gross misconduct/theft in my eyes.

[lizardlady]

This sort of thing bothers me too. Not sure what I'd do in your shoes though. How about listing the pros and cons or reporting it AND the pros and cons of not reporting. Maybe it will help you decide?

[FallDuskTrain]

Do you have an HR department? if so, you can report it to HR.
or, you can fish and see if any other employee noticed the same and may be get their opinion.
On the other hand, while it would bug me, I am not sure if I would choose to spend my energy on it. It is their supervisor's responsibility to catch that false reporting.
The thing is that it is difficult for me to provide an insight because I don't know your work environment, culture and the laws surrounding the business.
For instance if I had experienced your situation at my old job, I could feel comfortable enough to report to HR knowing that it would be handled in a classy and a fair way. However, I would not even bother reporting it at my current job because it is very toxic environment and it is possible that somehow I would end up getting in trouble for it.
So, in summary, in a well functioning company you could report it to HR (in confidence) and move on with your life. However, in a corrupt environment, things can work to your disadvantage.

[iwantadoover]

That's a tough one. I think the above posters have given some valuable insight. My gut reaction was to let it go, but I think my younger self would have had a lot of trouble doing that as I tend to define myself by principles . . . and even at my age I would still have trouble letting it go but not as much. But I think that the main thing one needs to do is focus on themselves and what makes him or her a better and happier person. What they are doing is not right but relatively small in the big scheme of things. If you think there would be any negative consequences for you I would for sure let it go.

[seesaw]

Keep your mouth shut. Work places are fraught with politics. Unless you are their supervisor, it's not your job to check the validity of their timesheets. When I was a supervisor, I would spot check my supervisees' timesheets to confirm when they were working. Not every day, just check in on it here and there. You don't know, but maybe they were told to add those extra minutes for some reason or another (maybe they did something off the clock and their supervisor advised them to just add 15 minutes).

While it might irk you, it really is not your place to deal with it. You could also have a lot of problems arise from reporting it. It's pretty common for word to get out who ratted whom out. If your co-workers get a warning, and find out it was you, they could make your work life hell. Your supervisor could also begin to look at you differently. I honestly see no upside to this.

Seesaw

[*Laurie*]

I understand what what your co-workers are doing bothers you. But unless it's part of your job to monitor the timesheets I think it's a great idea to sty out of it. Leave this particular responsibility to the person who oversees timesheets.

[Carmina]

15 minutes is nothing

[Crazy Hitch]

Every dog will have their day and they will too.

I wouldn't personally approach HR - as others have said - you don't need the unnecessary politics.

Maybe you could type a letter, put it in an envelope and leave it for HR without them knowing it was you?

[emgreen]

I agree with several of the above posters. You might just be making trouble for yourself if you report them. There's an old a sying that suggests, "Snitches get stitches," If not literally, then possibly emotionally.

[Row Jimmy]

Crusaders for justice never seem to get anywhere in society. I used to think I can "change the world" but I was sorely mistaken. Unless there's something in it for you, I'd stay out of it. The real problem here is that there's no oversight or audit presence. That's on the company.

Just a thought, but maybe it's time for a new job..........

[amandalouise]

I agree with seesaw here, there may be things that you dont know about the situation... example before I had my home employment that I have now I worked for a company where sometimes i got calls about work issues during my home hours. obviously Im not going to drive in to work at 3 am just to make out a time sheet. I kept track of how much time I have put in on work issues during my home time then when i go in to work I fill in the time sheet as required. my workers were not privy to when I was working on work issues at home or not, sometimes they saw me doing they they thought was my marking my time sheets adding more time then they witnessed. one actually got fired because they were paying more attention to their co workers time sheets and work then they were focusing on their own time sheets and work.

my suggestion if it really bothers you sure you can go to your supervisors, Im not here to say whether you should or shouldnt do something.

but maybe in this also take into consideration that just because you ......see..... them filling out their time sheets according to what.........you.....may feel is wrong way to do it, may not be the whole story. there may be things that you do not know about the situation.

[mote.of.soul]

I'd put a stop to it. They're stealing right underneath your nose. Right in front of you.

I'd stay out of it, unless it's specifically your job to review timesheets. You could get a reputation as a snitch if someone lets the word out, and make your job a living nightmare. In the grand scheme of things, 15 minutes is not worth the risk.

I have to comments on this.

First of all work begins the time you arrive on the floor not the time you walk in the door. No one should be punching in before then in the first place. Time to remove your coat and ready yourself for work is not being on duty.

Is there not a set schedule to adhere to? I don't understand the concept of adding time - unless they are arriving late and trying to cover that.

What to do? Contact your HR department immediately. This is theft.

[Taylor27]

I would report them

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by scaredandconfused

I'd stay out of it, unless it's specifically your job to review timesheets. You could get a reputation as a snitch if someone lets the word out, and make your job a living nightmare. In the grand scheme of things, 15 minutes is not worth the risk.

Well put and realistic. I agree.

[Tucson]

I am agreeing with the above intelligent posters. Just do not say anything. Your only concern should be yourself.

For me, doing nothing is not an option. When I see stealing under my nose I am not going to ignore it. Again, I suggest the HR route. This should not get back to you as they are bound to protect your identity. Is there a suggestion box or some other way of submitting an anonymous report? If none of these are an option, I would still go to someone of higher authority. You need not even identify the individuals in question rather simply state that this is a problem that exists. They ought to then start an enquiry as a result.

I wish you luck in resolving this.