New iPhone Application Allows Employees to Track Hours Worked and Wages Owed
On May 9, 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued a press release announcing that there is now an application for the iPhone or iPod Touch that employees can use to easily and independently record their hours worked (including overtime and break times) and calculate wages that are owed to the employee. The free application is called “DOL-Timesheet” and is available in both English and Spanish. Although it is premature to assess whether this application will in fact be utilized by the DOL and employees in wage and hour enforcement and litigation, the emergence of the new technology serves to remind employers of the importance of accurate recordkeeping of employee hours worked and training of employees regarding policies on overtime, rest and meal breaks. In addition, to minimize the risk of an enforcement action and/or litigation and associated penalties, employers should encourage employees to come forward if they notice any disparity between the employer’s time records and the records the employee maintains independently through the application.