Is falsifying your timesheets illegal?
Sarah Garza
Updated on March 28, 2026
Falsification. Falsifying time sheets is a violation of federal and state law. For example, under California law, falsifying work records, including time cards, is a dishonest act for which an employee may be terminated on the grounds of misconduct.
What can happen if an employer falsifying employee timesheets?
The falsification of timesheets in the workplace is a very serious offense under the law. Under the FLSA, employees are permitted to sue their employers if the employers alter their timesheets and/or other pay records to avoid paying overtime wages. …
Can you get fired for falsifying time card?
If you deliberately falsify your time sheets, your employer can fire you in most cases. Such an act is a form of criminal fraud, and can subject you both to prosecution and civil lawsuits.
Is it legal for a manager to change your timecard?
Your employer may change your time card without your permission for several valid reasons. If you forgot to clock in or out, your employer can make adjustments. Your employer may also change your time card if you double-punched a time or took paid vacation.
What happens if you steal company time?
Time theft can result in huge losses for your company. You may have surveillance cameras, physical security, and access control solutions in place to curb employee theft, but even with those loss prevention measures, time is often still easy to steal.
Can you be fired for dishonesty?
The termination of employment due to dishonesty should be a proactive, not reactive, procedure, guided by your company’s policy. Nonetheless, an employer must take decisive action to hold dishonesty employees accountable to enforce policy and preserve morale, according to the HR Digest.
What happens if you lie on a timesheet?
If an employee is fabricating hours on a timesheet, he or she may be both committing theft and violating company policy, in which case there would be severe consequences. And, as the person’s supervisor who signs off on the timecard, you could be disciplined if the information is incorrect.
What is considered time theft?
Time theft occurs when an employee is paid for work they have not actually done, or for time they were not actually at work.
What does it mean to falsify a time card?
Falsification of a time card happens when employees provide inaccurate data about their hours worked or cause others to supply misleading information. Some businesses still require workers to fill out a handwritten time card for each pay period.
Can a person be fired for falsifying time sheets?
Falsifying Time Sheets If you deliberately falsify your time sheets, your employer can fire you in most cases. Such an act is a form of criminal fraud, and can subject you both to prosecution and civil lawsuits.
Can a time clock be used to falsify time?
A time clock automatically records the time on a card when an employee inserts it in a slot. This makes it more difficult for workers to mislead employers about arrival and departure times. A time clock does not eliminate the problem of falsification.
Do you still have to fill out time cards?
Handwritten Time Cards. Some businesses still require workers to fill out a handwritten time card for each pay period. Employees typically will supply information about the precise time they arrived and left work each day.