Time Theft Study
New Study Reveals One in Four Hourly Workers Overreport Their Hours
Anonymous
Key Points
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17% of hourly workers who misreport their hours do so on a weekly or daily basis, a precision not detailed in the summary.
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Not-active-on-the-clock scenarios highlighted in the articles include clocking in before a shift starts, not clocking out for lunch, or forgetting to clock out after finishing work.
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The Time theft report was republished in at least five local outlets (Uintah County Herald, Torrington Telegram, Lake Chelan Mirror, Pontevedra Recorder, and Eagle Country Lifestyle), indicating broad cross-publisher coverage of OnTheClock’s findings.
One in four hourly workers admit to buddy punching — clocking in or out for a coworker, or having someone do it for them — according to OnTheClock survey of over 830 workers. The practice is just one form of time theft that costs employers billions annually. The survey reveals a startling gap between worker behavior and what managers think they're catching.
Nearly half of all hourly workers have adjusted their reported hours at some point. Forty-five percent clock in while not actively working. Many do this multiple times per week. Yet 79% of workers believe their managers review time cards closely — a disconnect that suggests widespread underreporting of the problem by supervisors.
The Many Ways Workers Misreport Their Time
Time theft takes many forms beyond buddy punching. Seventeen percent of workers who misreport hours do so weekly or daily, according to OnTheClock data. Common scenarios include clocking in before a shift starts, forgetting to clock out for lunch, or staying clocked in after finishing work. Eighty-three percent of workers spend at least some time on personal matters while clocked in.
Personal phone use is rampant. Fifty-five percent handle texts, calls, or emails while on the clock. The survey shows this behavior is normalized across workplaces. Most workers view these small time drains as minor infractions, not actual theft.
Workers Don't Think Monitoring Changes Anything
Two-thirds of workers believe increased monitoring wouldn't change their on-the-clock behavior, OnTheClock found. This suggests that stricter surveillance alone won't solve time theft. Workers may see personal tasks as part of the job, or justified by low wages and poor working conditions. Simply watching employees more closely misses the root causes.
The mismatch between perceived oversight and actual accuracy is striking. Seventy-nine percent think managers catch time card problems closely. Yet 43% have adjusted hours and nearly half clock in while inactive. Managers are either not checking carefully, or workers believe they can get away with it anyway.
Why Tighter Rules Alone Won't Fix Time Theft
The OnTheClock findings suggest policy changes matter more than surveillance cameras. Workers need clearer expectations about when they're actually on the clock. Policies should explain what counts as work time and what doesn't. Right now, gray areas leave room for self-serving interpretation.
Better system incentives could also help. If workers feel fairly paid and valued, they may police themselves. The survey implies that time theft stems partly from disconnection between employer and worker. Addressing that relationship is harder than installing time clocks — but may be more effective long-term.
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