Fudging the timesheets!

Re: Fudging the timesheets!

Ian Thompson — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 16:34:44 GMT

I recently had to help a business with a dysfunctional team of employees. Everyone was pulling in different directions and no one would take responsibility for anything. As part of my general checking of how the land lay I accessed the alarm system computer logs and found that two cleaners who were supposed to clean the building in an evening had been leaving 20-40 minutes early on a regular basis for over 9 months.

20 minutes doesn't sound much but it added up to 125 hours each. 125 x £6.19 = £773.75 each. Also the place looked messy and unclean.

Nipping it in the bud early will save a lot of arguments and stress later, so my advice is to mention it to the head nurse or practice principal.

Re: Fudging the timesheets!

Sammyannieantha — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 08:08:11 GMT

that is unfair supamog- i always stayed to help if running over-gets the job done quicker then everyone can go home quicker.. but people writing O/T when they havent done it is unfair..I would feel so dishonest doing that- as a locum if i stay behind 15 min i never charge... has the bosses noticed?i understand how irritated you must feel..x

Re: Fudging the timesheets!

Sal the 1st — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 17:26:40 GMT

yes would agree it is a form of bullying if the person left behind darent say anything especially if they are being relied to do somebody elses job and not get their pay and the people doing it obviously have no respect for the people they leave behind to cover their absence. I must admit when I was a HN I was not in favour of people working through breaks unless they were actually needed and I had sanctioned it because this is exactly what used to happen - it became easy for people wanting a long weekend to say oh I worked through lunch etc so they could leave early and leave somebody who wouldnt speak up to cover for them.

I have also seen it where the person left behind has claimed overtime and the way I put a stop to that (with full agreement from boss) was to say well its costing us x amount in overtime this year for the nursing staff so I am afraid this year it means there isnt that much left in the pot for a wage rise for all of us - it did get people pulling together better and for people to be less tolerant of those that skip off early. The one thing I would say with this is involve your HN thats what s/he is there for

.... and there is nothing to say you cant have a fire drill one day - it doesnt have to be the real thing

Re: Fudging the timesheets!

supamog — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 16:32:58 GMT

Thanks for the replies. Yes both had had their lunch breaks and no the were not owed any time back or anything. Apparantly

it was friday and "they live for the weekend". If they are not committed and interested in their work I wish they would just leave

and give someone who is desperate to get into veterinary work the chance. Going back to another thread, I guess its a form

of silent bullying that the person who was left on their own wasn't going to say anything, but when put on the spot had no

option. My first response was "what if there had been a fire and it was assumed they were still in the building?" eshk!

Re: Fudging the timesheets!

Sal the 1st — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 15:53:30 GMT

agree with Celine be very careful that this isnt time for a break or breaks that have been worked through.

If it isnt and they are downing tools early regularly then whichever way you look at it its stealing from the practice who is footing the bill for it and also stealing time from other staff who are covering their absence. Worst case is when somebody gets paid for work they havnt done and then another member of staff fills in for them and writes up overtime for the extra work they have had to do.

Re: Fudging the timesheets!

Celine — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 13:41:54 GMT

Hmm.

Are they leaving early or are they writing down overtime that they haven't done? And if so are you sure it isn't written in that way because it is tacking on the 20 mins of tea/lunch break they didn't have earlier in the day? Is this a one-off or is it something they do frequently? Is there a Head Nurse who checks timesheets or someone in the office?

If no-one is going to say anything directly to the bosses (why not?) you might have to find some reason why you urgently need to speak to them about a case or something at a time when you know they've left early? And then innocently wander around asking everyone - including bosses - if they have seen Sally because you know she must be here because she is not due to leave for another 20 mins....? That should get noticed.

If you do decide to mention this to your line manager / boss then you had better make sure you are completely sure of the facts.... and that this isn't some arrangement they have with the HN because they work through a break or something.