On May 9, 2011, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) announced the launch of its first timesheet application for smartphones which allows employees to independently track the hours they work and determine the wages they are owed. The “app,” which is available in English and Spanish, allows employees to track their regular work hours, break time and any overtime hours for multiple employers. The app also allows employees to add comments on any information related to their work hours, view a summary of work hours in daily/weekly/monthly formats, and forward the summary of work hours and gross pay as an e-mail attachment.
Instead of relying on their employers’ records, employees now have the ability to keep their own records. As the USDOL’s website notes, this information could prove invaluable during a Wage and Hour Investigation when an employer has failed to maintain accurate employment records. It is therefore essential that employers review their compensation practices to ensure compliance with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and any applicable state and local wage and hour laws.
The USDOL’s full press release can be found on the USDOL’s website.