Modern technology has changed the way that most people in this country live, work and do business — but tech is also a double-edged sword that can end up being used to cheat workers out of their hard-earned wages.
Consider, for example, the process of time clock “rounding.”
What’s rounding?
Rounding is a process used by certain time clocks to change the time an employee clocks in and clocks out to the nearest quarter hour. For example, if you clock in for your shift at 2:54 p.m., the time clock will automatically round that to 3 p.m.
If your employer uses a time clock that rounds to the nearest quarter hour, you’re probably being underpaid. While those six or seven minutes may not seem like much, it’s estimated that rounding and automatic break deductions (which is another common feature on time clocks) could be stealing 44 minutes worth of work per day from each employee’s timesheet.
Over a week’s time, that can add up to a significant loss from your paycheck. When you calculate out how much money that takes from an employer’s workforce as a whole, that’s a lot of money your employer is keeping unfairly — and illegally.
Employers often couple rounding with rules that penalize an employee for clocking in too early or too late, both of which could cause the time clock to round in a way that benefits the employee — not the company.
There’s simply no excuse for rounding. Modern software is so precise that it’s easy for companies to pay employees for their actual time — but employers enjoy the benefits of rounding far too much.
Are you a victim of wage theft?
If you think your employer has cheated you out of your due, you can fight back. An attorney can show you how. Find out more by continuing to review our website for more information.