Correcting time punches during payroll keeps compensation accurate and fair.

What must be done with time punches during payroll?

• A. Send them as is
• B. Correct them as needed
• C. Delete unnecessary punches
• D. Ignore entries that seem wrong

Answer: (B)

The process of handling time punches during payroll is crucial for ensuring accurate employee compensation. Correcting time punches as needed is essential because inaccurate time entries can lead to employees being underpaid or overpaid, which can create financial discrepancies and legal issues for the business. By reviewing and correcting these time punches, employers can ensure that they accurately reflect the hours worked by each employee, including adjustments for overtime, missed punches, or incorrect time entries. This attention to detail helps maintain the integrity of the payroll system and supports fairness in compensation. The other options do not contribute to maintaining accurate payroll records. Simply sending time punches as they are could perpetuate errors, deleting unnecessary punches could result in loss of legitimate time records, and ignoring entries could lead to widespread payroll inaccuracies, affecting both the employees and the organization.

Time punches and payroll: keeping hours honest at Jersey Mike’s

If you’ve ever watched a paycheck drift from what you expected, you know how tiny a mistake can feel. Time punches—the clock-in and clock-out records that show who worked when—are not just data. They’re the trail that proves hours, overtime, breaks, and paid leave. For a busy shop like Jersey Mike’s, where every sandwich counts and every team member depends on fair pay, the way we handle those punches matters.

Here’s the bottom line: the right move is to correct them as needed. That approach keeps pay accurate, builds trust, and helps the whole team stay on the same page. It’s a simple rule, but it has big consequences if ignored or mishandled. Let me explain how this works in practice and why it’s worth getting right.

What makes time punches so important?

Payroll accuracy isn’t just about numbers on a screen. It’s about fairness and compliance. When time punches are wrong, several things can go off track:

• Employees may be paid for hours they didn’t work, or miss pay for hours they did work.

• Overtime calculations can go awry, which can trigger wage-and-hour concerns.

• Payroll audits become more painful if the system shows a messy trail of edits or gaps.

• Team morale takes a hit because people notice inconsistencies in how time is recorded and paid.

So, what should you do with those punches each pay period? Correct them as needed. That means looking at the entries, spotting errors or omissions, and fixing them before payroll processes finalize.

What not to do

Let’s be clear about the other options, because they sound tempting in the rush of a busy day, but they don’t help:

• Send them as is. If you push through erroneous punches, you’re just passing along the mistake. That creates underpayments or overpayments and compounds problems later.

• Delete unnecessary punches. While it might feel tidy to prune records, deletions erase a legitimate history. You could lose a valid time entry or the context for why a change was made.

• Ignore entries that seem wrong. Guessing or ignoring issues invites a growing pile of discrepancies and a messy audit trail.

The right approach is thoughtful correction, documented and traceable, so payroll remains precise and accountable.

How to correct time punches effectively

Think of the correction process as a careful QA pass on hours worked. Here’s a practical, Jersey Mike’s-friendly way to handle it:

1. Review with purpose

• Compare the time punches to the schedule, job codes, and any notes from managers on short shifts, breaks, or overtime.

• Look for obvious red flags: a late clock-in, a missing punch for a full shift, an unusual gap, or an overtime flag that doesn’t match the work performed.

• If something looks off, don’t assume. Check with the employee or the supervisor to confirm what happened.

2. Make precise adjustments

• In your payroll system or timekeeping software, update the hours to reflect actual work. This might mean correcting a start or end time, adding missing punches, or adjusting a break rule.

• If overtime applies, ensure the overtime rate kicks in correctly and the hours cross the threshold as required by policy or law.

• Keep the original punch as a reference. A good system preserves both the initial entry and the corrected one, so you can see what changed and why.

3. Document the rationale

• Always note the reason for the correction in the system. Was there a missed punch? A wrong time entered? A supervisor-approved schedule change?

• Use a simple, consistent format so audits are easy to follow. A short note plus a date and person responsible goes a long way.

4. Secure an audit trail

• Make sure changes are traceable. The who, what, when, and why should be visible in the record.

• If a supervisor approves the correction, capture that approval in the system or attach a quick confirmation note.

• Retain copies of the original entry for a reasonable period, as required by company policy and local regulations.

5. Confirm everything is paid correctly

• Run a quick payroll preview after corrections. Check totals, overtime, and any deductions that might hinge on hours worked.

• If you use a time clock with biometric or PIN login, verify that the entry reflects the correct person and shift.

• Share the updated outcomes with the employee if appropriate, especially if corrections affect their net pay.

Practical scenarios you’ll encounter

• Missed punch but hours worked: The employee clocked in, worked the shift, but the punch didn’t register. Add the missing punch, or adjust the shift in the system to reflect the actual hours.

• Incorrect clock-in time: If someone started early or late by a few minutes, adjust to the true start time, not necessarily to the nearest rounding rule. If your policy involves rounding, apply it consistently and document how you handled the edge cases.

• Overtime that wasn’t anticipated: If hours push into overtime, verify the rate and ensure the correct overtime rules are applied. Timely correction keeps benefits and compliance aligned.

• Breaks and meal periods: Ensure that break deductions reflect the actual breaks taken, especially if a manager approved an extended break or if a clock-out happened mid-shift.

Tools and processes that support correct punches

Many Jersey Mike’s locations rely on modern timekeeping ecosystems to reduce errors and speed up the correction process. Here are a few practical aids:

• Timekeeping software with edit trails: Systems that log every change, who made it, and when, make corrections auditable and transparent.

• Scheduling integration: When schedules are plugged into the payroll system, fewer mismatches occur between planned hours and punches.

• Mobile clock apps: If your team clocks in from a mobile device, ensure the app enforces correct user ID and location, reducing the chance of misattribution.

• Supervisory approvals: A lightweight approval workflow helps confirm corrections before they roll into payroll.

A short policy checklist you can adapt

• Every correction must have a rational, testable reason.

• Original punches and the corrected entries are both retained for a defined period.

• Corrections are performed in a timely manner before payroll runs.

• Supervisors review and approve adjustments, with a clear sign-off.

• Employees are informed of corrections that affect their pay, when appropriate.

The human side of payroll accuracy

Beyond rules and systems, there’s a human element. People plan around their paychecks. A fair, transparent correction process builds trust. When a teammate sees that a late punch or a mis-timed clock-in is fixed with clear reasoning, they’ll feel confident that the system respects their time and effort.

That’s especially true in a fast-paced service environment like Jersey Mike’s, where teams hinge on reliability. The goal isn’t to nitpick every minute but to ensure that the record reflects reality as closely as possible. It’s a balance between precision and practicality—and it pays off in morale, retention, and smooth operations.

A few quick reminders for teams and managers

• Training matters: Take time to explain how time punches are corrected and why accuracy matters. A quick refresher beats confusion later.

• Consistency matters: Apply the same rules across shifts and locations to avoid perceptions of favoritism or bias.

• Communication matters: When you correct a punch, let the employee know what changed and why. It helps everyone stay aligned.

• Compliance matters: Be mindful of local wage and hour laws. Correcting hours within policy helps stay on the right side of regulations and audits.

In short: correct them as needed

Time punches are more than a line of numbers. They’re the trust bridge between a fair paycheck and daily business realities. When a clock-in or clock-out isn’t right, the responsible move isn’t to ignore it or pretend it doesn’t exist. It’s to fix it, document why, and move on with clarity.

If you’re part of a Jersey Mike’s team, you’re already juggling a lot: fresh deliveries, clean counters, smiling customers. Payroll corrections don’t have to be a headache. With a straightforward approach—review, adjust, document, and confirm—you keep the payroll honest and the team confident. And that’s a win you can taste in every shift, every order, and every paycheck.