Sample Attendance Recordkeeping (Time Sheet) Policy

Here are a few paragraphs you can use and modify when crafting a time sheet policy for your employee handbook or intranet.

Each non-exempt employee is responsible for accurately recording the hours worked, sick leave, vacation, holidays and leaves of absence, whether paid or unpaid, on his/her time sheet. It is essential that this information be accurate.

Each exempt employee must indicate vacation, sick leave, leaves of absence (whether paid or unpaid) on his/her time sheet to ensure proper accrual and accounting of leave benefits.

At the end of the pay period, each employee must sign the time sheet signifying that the time record is accurate and complete. Changes to the time sheet may be made only by the employee and must be initialed by a member of management, signifying that the change is correct and accurate.

All time sheets must be submitted to the supervisor for approval and then submitted for payment processing. If an employee feels that changes or alterations have been made in his/her time sheet or that the information entered is incorrect, he/she must notify the supervisor so that the matter can be handled quickly.

All overtime worked must be authorized in advance by the supervisor and later designated on the time sheet showing time commenced and time ceased. A notation must be made on the time sheet as to the purpose of the overtime.

All time sheets must be received by noon on the Monday following the end of the pay period. Time sheets received after noon on Monday will be processed at the end of the next regularly scheduled pay period.

SOURCE: Todd Raphael, Online Editor, and other Workforce staff, April 20, 2000.