Q&A

Is it OK to work off the clock?

Is it OK to work off the clock?

Working off the clock might seem like it should be an employee’s choice; after all, if you’re willing to put in unpaid time to catch up on work, make sure a project goes smoothly or ensure you don’t come in to find 100 emails waiting for you in the morning, why shouldn’t you be allowed to?

Can a company discipline you for working off the clock?

Employees can be subject to discipline for working unauthorized overtime, even if employees voluntarily work after hours and should understand that the time worked must be recorded and that failing to record their time isn’t helping the company. Off-The-Clock Work Can Trigger Lawsuit

Do you tell your boss if you work off the clock?

If you can’t realistically finish all your work in 40 hours, the solution isn’t to work off the clock and not tell your boss. Instead, in most cases you should talk with your manager about what you can and can’t get done and how you should be prioritizing things.

What happens if your manager asks you to work after you clock out?

If your manager asks you to work after you have clocked out, or before you have clocked in, then your hours are not properly recorded and you are not paid for all the hours you worked. The next time your manager asks you to work and you are not clocked in, I recommend asking your manager if you can clock in before actually doing the work.

When do you get paid for working off the clock?

Assignments or time that an employer has allowed an employee to wait to perform a task, thus counted as work, and will be paid. If an employee is working on a project and not completed, might take home and work from there without counting the hours.

Employees can be subject to discipline for working unauthorized overtime, even if employees voluntarily work after hours and should understand that the time worked must be recorded and that failing to record their time isn’t helping the company. Off-The-Clock Work Can Trigger Lawsuit

Is it illegal for an employer to ignore the time clock?

Whether or not the employer is overlooking or encouraging off-the-clock work, it is nonetheless illegal. Employees can file a complaint with the Department of Labor or file a lawsuit for unpaid wages under the FLSA. What is the 7-minute rule for time keeping?