Who is Responsible for Tracking Time for Overtime Purposes?

The Importance of Time Tracking Under Overtime Laws

Ultimately, it is the employer's responsibility to keep a record of employee time, though you can put the burden on employees to record and report their time. If you do not have a system in place for recording time, you may have no way to rebut a later claim by an employee that they worked hours they were not paid for, or worked overtime. This can be as simple as a written time card or weekly email, or there are many applications available that allow people to electronically record time.

It is common for employers not to track time for salaried employees, for the simple reason that the amount of time does not affect their regular paycheck. This can come back to haunt you, though, if a salaried employee later claims that they were not properly classified as overtime exempt. Even if you don't track time on an hour by hour basis for these employees, it is a good idea to keep some record of their schedule and activities so that you have an idea how much they are working and can manage your overtime risk.

Learn more here about overtime under Massachusetts and federal law.