Employees/Time Clock Fraud

[alan802]

What's the deal with terminating someone for blatant and repeated time clock shenanigans/fraud?  I've got a screen guy that "forgets" to clock in when he's late then when we hand out the timesheets on Thursdays so they can check their hours and fix any mistakes of course 8:00 AM is written down.  Then when it's lunch time he walks in and fixes his lunch, gets all setup for lunch then acts like he forgot to clock out and then proceeds to do it.  But other times when he thinks I'm not watching he just clocks out when it's time for him to sit down and eat.  Then I've noticed he gets to work early some days when he rides with his mom and clocks in at 7:40 but doesn't come to the screen printing building till 8.  I can get into the story of what I've personally done for this guy, what Charlotte did for him when he was in jail, all that stuff in my next post, but isn't time theft essentially a one strike/you gone type of issue?

I've spent a little time searching and it looks like it's a termination on the first action type of thing but wondering if any of you have been through this?  And before anyone asks, no, it's not spelled out in an employee handbook because we don't have one.  I started one a long time ago and never finished it but now I need to get back to it and finish it by the end of the week. 

[Prosperi-Tees]

It is plain theft in my eyes but I dont know the legal term. Small form of embezzlement?

[GraphicDisorder]

I am sure there is no reason you'd have trouble firing them for it but id be sure you've documented it.

[Gilligan]

I had a computer guy that was kind of doing the same thing.

We were just doing "write down your time" until he kept "abusing" that, then we switched to some software.  This was good... but he started doing the riding thing as well.  He would wait till his ride was here to clock out, but he would stop working WAY before that and just stand around the front looking out of the window.

Had to have an awkward talk with him.  He ended up finding a better job, I was happy to see him go.

[tpitman]

Can his ass. Tell him you're sorry that your business hours don't conform to his "internal clock" and good luck finding that dream job that does.

[Sbrem]

I'm afraid it's time to let him go. It sucks firing someone, even after you notice them taking advantage of your good nature. But it's not going to stop most likely, so time for everyone to move on. We've had folks who did time as well, some want to change, some want to go back to what they know...

Steve

[mimosatexas]

Texas is a right to work state, so you can fire someone for not liking their face or because you're in a bad mood that morning or just to see someone breakdown if that's your thing.  As long as it isn't explicitly because of race, gender, sexuality, etc you can fire them for ANYTHING or NOTHING.

[larryk]

NOW is the time to cut him loose... I'm sure other employees are seeing him get away with it so stop it before it spreads.
It sounds like you also have time and money invested in this guy so if you are emotionally attached a good heart to heart could get things turned around..... but it is doubtfull.

[Underbase37]

I find these are the same people that tend to be out the door at 6 on the dot & complaining that there always broke.

[Croft]

Sounds like you need to standardize work/ break times , In our area you can dock 15 min for time cards not punched that usually gets people back on track. At one point time cards had to be initialled by a supervisor for overtime to be paid, so even if they worked an extra 15 min and got an initial they got paid , no initial they got paid to regular clock out time.

[tonypep]

Last I checked a timecard was considered a legal doc and fraudulent punching was illegal (Fed Offense).

[tpitman]

Against my previous advice (because he knows exactly what he's doing) if you're bummed because of the investment you've made in him by giving him a chance, call him in, tell him you've watched this behavior for some time now, and that there won't be another discussion about it. One more time clock error, one more clocking out after standing around, one more clocking in at 7:40 then goofing off until 8, and he's out with no opportunity to explain.

[GraphicDisorder]

Against my previous advice (because he knows exactly what he's doing) if you're bummed because of the investment you've made in him by giving him a chance, call him in, tell him you've watched this behavior for some time now, and that there won't be another discussion about it. One more time clock error, one more clocking out after standing around, one more clocking in at 7:40 then goofing off until 8, and he's out with no opportunity to explain.

Perfect Score.

[jsheridan]

It's theft plain and simple.

[kirkage]

It really exposes (sorry for the pun) the true character of a person. I would have him train his replacement and let him go.