Employers and employees have a mutual understanding that in exchange for an employee's time and effort, employers will pay them for that time and effort spent. But what can an employer do when they suspect that they are paying for more than what they are getting? Afterall, many people admit to clocking in or out for coworkers fraudulently, and many also admit to fudging how many hours they actually worked on their timecard. So how can you prove that someone is committing timecard fraud?

What Timecard Fraud Looks Like

Timecard fraud can take many forms but here are a few examples of what it can look like:

- Employees taking extra-long lunch breaks

- Employees clocking in on time even when they arrived to work late

- Employees participating in personal activities for extended periods of time while on the clock

How to Prevent Timecard Fraud

Of course, the main goal is to not have to experience timecard fraud at all. In a perfect world, everyone would abide by the rules that they signed on to. Which is why it is important that your employees know the rules in the first place. Make sure that all employees are aware of policies and procedures revolving around timecards, lunches, and handling personal matters on the clock. Human Resources should have documents stating these policies on their file. All employees should have acknowledged these rules with their signature. As an employer, you can then enforce these rules. If you hear that time is being misused while on the clock, remind employees of the policies regarding appropriate use of their time while on the clock. More often than not, a verbal correction is all that is needed.

How Private Investigators Can Help

If you as an employer have taken all the steps above and you still suspect timecard fraud, hiring a private investigator can help you prove it. This type of fraud can be tricky to prove, but our experienced team here at Lobb Investigations can successfully find you answers. If we confirm your suspicions, you will be provided with photos, videos, or whatever evidence we uncover. If you decide to fire an employee from there, this evidence will protect you against a wrongful termination lawsuit.