If you use a time clock at your job...

**brokemom** · 02-06-2007, 06:16 AM

If you use a time clock at your job what happens if you miss a punch? At my job if you miss four punches you are terminated. They just let someone go for missing 4 punches in about 4 months. Do you think this is "fair"? As I understand it is legal but is it good business practice? Just want feed back on what other businesses do in the missed punch situation. Thanks!!

**mustang80** · 02-06-2007, 06:18 AM

We work at a satellite office, so our practice manager just calls us and asks what time we punched in/out if we miss a punch. Thankfully he trusts us in this area I guess.

**mnmarty03** · 02-06-2007, 08:19 AM

At my job they have ways of knowing whether you're really there or not. For instance, it'd be impossible for me to claim that I forgot to punch in at the start of a shift, when really I was at home and came in late, but didn't want them to know. I work in a call center, so they know when we're really there and when we're not. So we don't get in trouble for a missed punch, we just fill out a sheet. I've never worked anywhere else where you get in trouble for it either. Firing someone cause they missed four punches is a little drastic, in my opinion...

**YankeeMom** · 02-06-2007, 08:46 AM

We clock in with a computer. It's kind of hard for a server to forget to clock in because we can't use the MICROS (computer to put in orders) if we aren't clocked in. However, I most often forget to clock out.
The managers just go into the computer and set the time you left. If someone from the back of the house forgets to clock in or their 'clock in' gets reset before a manager can swipe it in (they use the same MICROS that servers use to input orders, sometimes in a rush a server will reset someone's clock-in so they can use the MICROS) the manager just goes in and sets their clock in time to the time they were scheduled to start.

It's not made to be a big deal there.
We're not allowed to clock in until exactly the time we are scheduled to start...which I think is stupid. Why not give us a window, like 3 minutes before and three minutes after. Especially on the days when they have 20 servers PLUS back of the house staff scheduled to come in at 3:45pm....what are the chances that we are all going to be able to get clocked in in 60 seconds?

**McD** · 02-06-2007, 09:22 AM

We clock in on a computer system. If we miss a punch our supervisor adjusts it....it's not a huge deal.

**3pups** · 02-06-2007, 10:03 AM

We also clock in on a computer. I work in a small vet's office so it's pretty obvious if you're lying about your time. We just tell our boss that we forgot to clock in or out and he adjusts it. It's not a big deal here either. Termination has never been brought up at any of my past jobs either for this type thing.

**Ani** · 02-06-2007, 10:10 AM

Wow, I think that's a total overreaction to fire someone for missing some punches.

My time card is always a mess because I end up doing work from home on an emergency basis sometimes etc. Besides that, I'm just really not that good at clocking in and out like I'm supposed to. I'd have been fired every week! lol I'm surprised they haven't just salaried me yet, although I'm grateful, I like the overtime. I have admin rights to my own timecard, so I just go in and adjust it if I make a mistake. My managers trust me.

**tigo** · 02-06-2007, 10:38 AM

I work for a manufacturing company. The folks on the production line use a time card to clock in and out on the computer. We have a similar policy here too about terminations after missing punch in or outs. The problem for us is there are a large number of employees and there are folks who perpetually "forget" or are late. Some of those that are never on time or leave early actually quit when the system was put into place. It is sad when employers have to be tough with workers but a few bad apples make it tough for all of us.

**Telephus44** · 02-06-2007, 10:43 AM

I've had to punch in a few places, and never was it a big deal if you missed a punch - either you told your supervisor and they'd fix it, or else HR would come and ask you the day before payroll was run. It wasn't something they'd ever fire anyone for.

I did work one place where if you were more than 2 minutes late, or punched out more than 2 minutes early, they'd dock you for 15 minutes. I always thought that was stupid - if I showed up at 7:03 I wouldn't get paid until 7:15, so I would just hang out in the breakroom and have a soda for 10 minutes if I was that late.

**suzysaver** · 02-06-2007, 11:08 AM

I keep my swipe card with my work key in the same place in my purse and I have never forgotten to swipe in or out. I can see how people could forget, we are only human. Wow, that seems a little drastic to fire someone for 4 missed punches in 4 months. If someone does forget where we work, you just go get a form and fill in and have the supervisor sign it for you...not a big deal. If we had your policy ..I would probably be so stressed about it, I would miss them.

**jinx** · 02-06-2007, 12:19 PM

Where I work we have to clock in on a computer. It is impossible to fudge a punch if you are not there. If I forget there is a form to fill out and give it to the shift manager. Also we have a 3 minute window. I am not allowed to punch in until 3 minutes or less before a shift. If I punch in 3 minutes after I were supposed to start like, like others getting paid doesnt start unil the next 1/4 hour. So punch in at 9:49, dont start getting paid until 10:00. I am considered late if a punch is more that 1 minute past the time of the start of your shift. After 3 late punches you are given a talking to and a note is placed in your file, after 5 or more late punches, it is considered habitual and you are let go.
Another thing that I am not crazy about where I work. Only Managers are allowed to open the doors to let employees in before the store opens, some have been kept waiting for more than 10 minutes, then are considered late when the door is finally opened. That is why I make sure I am at the door 15 minutes at least before I am to start.

**Amanda W** · 02-06-2007, 02:09 PM

I work at home and have a "virtual timeclock" but I also have administrative rights so I can go in and fix it if I miss a punch. That's seems completely over the top to fire someone for 4 missed punches.

**Kitten20** · 02-06-2007, 02:21 PM

At one of my jobs, we have a virtual time clock program on the computer. I have admin rights, so if I forget, I just do it before I leave. At my other job, we have to call in and I actually forgot today!

So I had to fill out a time card and have the client sign it. (I do in-home service.) I'll mail that to the office tomorrow. I don't think we get fired, but if you have more than 3 missed punches per month, you don't get paid for whatever time you missed after the 3 missed ones.

**starsapphire** · 02-06-2007, 03:41 PM

We're really fortunate to be on the honor system at my job. No time clocks or punching in or anything. We're so often working through breaks, working late, working through lunch that we don't get paid for (overtime is not allowed) that nobody blinks an eye if you're ten minutes late. There's no serious abuse happening either.

**brokemom** · 02-06-2007, 03:51 PM

Thanks for everyones replies. Yes, it is stressful thinking about missing a punch. I have myself- on my way to punch out for lunch and someone catches you in hall and puts you off your routine and uh OH! Only human! And hey, the time clock (computer) could actually mess up to right?! And if someone is late, it is known since we're in child care so we have ratios to meet. The rebel in me really wants to miss 4 punches in one day!