Mfcttrf

My supervisor does not want questions asked about our timesheets, so he directs we fill them out exactly the same each week. Sometimes we vary the hours we work each day, but he wants it to say 8 hours Monday through Friday, no matter how much or how little we work.

I want to be honest on the timesheet, but when I mentioned that, he said "I'm sorry you feel that way, but we need it to be 8 hours a day or payroll will go crazy."

Many weeks I'm there more than 45 hours a week. I know I'm salaried and won't get paid extra, but I want the timesheet to be an accurate record of my effort.

This especially bothers me, because the timesheet has a box I have to sign attesting to it's accuracy. This is driving me nuts that my supervisor would be so controlling. Should I simply do as I'm told or is there anything wrong with what my supervisor is doing I could tell higher ups?

Take both options.

Fill out the timesheets that go to payroll the way that payroll wants them to be filled out. Then, create your own spreadsheet to track time accurately, and save that for your own records. Keep these in case you need to cover yourself for whatever reason.

If you ever find some need to show people how much you've actually worked, show them your version. Otherwise, just let them sit on your computer forever.

Explain to your supervisor that the timesheet has to be accurate as:

(a) you're signing to that effect, and it would be immoral and illegal to sign a false declaration

(b) the timesheet records when you are on the employer's business and in the event of any dispute or claim will be produced as evidence. For example, if you are injured whether you are on employer's time or your own time may be very relevant, or if the business is sued for something you've done the business will need you to be covered by its liability insurance.

Then you have two choices:

(a) you submit an accurate timesheet to your supervisor and refuse to discuss it further. That is your timesheet. End of discussion. (Keep a photocopy.) Payroll's problems are payroll's problems, not yours. (Although I suspect that if you aren't actually being paid any more, there may be a cost allocation issue and your supervisor is trying to keep his section's budgeted hours down.)

(b) you work only the hours stated on the timesheet that your supervisor will authorise. Not one minute earlier or later. Those are the hours your supervisor has instructed and authorised, so those are what you do. Not more and not less.