Current:Home > Contact-usA woman is ordered to repay $2,000 after her employer used software to track her time-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
A woman is ordered to repay $2,000 after her employer used software to track her time
View Date:2024-12-23 18:34:54
When Canadian accountant Karlee Besse was fired for being unproductive at her job, she found herself up against not only her former employer, but its time-tracking software, too.
Now, a civil tribunal, which is part of Canada's judicial system, has ruled that Besse owes her former company $2,756 after the software installed on her laptop revealed she misrepresented over 50 hours at work.
Besse worked remotely for Reach CPA, an accounting firm based in British Columbia, Canada. The dispute began last year when Besse claimed she was fired without "just cause."
Her employer argued that Besse was rightfully let go because she engaged in time theft. Reach CPA said it gathered evidence using TimeCamp, time-tracking software that records what files are accessed, and for how long. The records showed a discrepancy of 50 hours between what Besse reported as time worked and what TimeCamp logged as work activity.
Besse argued that she found the program difficult to use and she could not get the software to differentiate between work and time spent on her work laptop for personal use — which, both parties agree, her employer allowed during staff's off-hours.
In video submitted to court, Reach CPA showed that TimeCamp is able to record when and how long employees access work-related documents, and to differentiate – based on electronic pathway – from when they're on non-work sites, such as a streaming service like Disney Plus. The company makes the final distinction between work and non-work activities.
Besse also argued that she spent a significant amount of time working with paper documents, but didn't tell her company because "they wouldn't want to hear that." However, TimeCamp also tracks printing activity and the company found no evidence that she printed a large volume of documents.
When confronted with the 50 unaccounted hours, Beese told her manager that she inaccurately logged some hours in her timesheet.
"I've plugged time to files that I didn't touch and that wasn't right or appropriate in any way or fashion, and I recognize that and so for that I'm really sorry," Besse said in a meeting with her company, according to video cited in the ruling.
Ultimately, the Civil Resolution Tribunal dismissed Besse's claims. The court also ruled that Besse has 30 days to pay back her former employer for the unaccounted work hours she was paid for and other associated costs.
A growing number of companies are using technologies to monitor its staff while they work from home. Employers see it as a tool to ensure workers aren't slacking off and improve efficiency. Workers and privacy advocates, however, say this kind of tracking is intrusive and worry that it will normalize workplace surveillance, even when people return to the office.
veryGood! (89)
Related
- Mississippi expects only a small growth in state budget
- What to make of the Pac-12, Georgia? Who wins Week 4 showdowns? College Football Fix discusses
- Washington gubernatorial debate pits attorney general vs. ex-sheriff who helped nab serial killer
- Eric Roberts makes 'public apology' to sister Julia Roberts in new memoir: Report
- Wildfires burn from coast-to-coast; red flag warnings issued for Northeast
- Eric Roberts makes 'public apology' to sister Julia Roberts in new memoir: Report
- Father of Colorado supermarket gunman thought he could be possessed by an evil spirit
- Mary Jo Eustace Details Coparenting Relationship With Dean McDermott and Tori Spelling
- Denzel Washington teases retirement — and a role in 'Black Panther 3'
- Nick Cannon Shares Update on Ex Mariah Carey After Deaths of Her Mother and Sister
Ranking
- Tennis Channel suspends reporter after comments on Barbora Krejcikova's appearance
- US Army conducts training exercise on Alaskan island less than 300 miles from Russia
- Prefer to deposit checks in person? Bank branches may soon be hard to come by, report says
- Florence Pugh Confirms New Relationship 2 Years After Zach Braff Split
- Wildfires burn on both coasts. Is climate change to blame?
- Gia Giudice Shares Hangover Skincare Hacks, the Item She Has in Her Bag at All Times & $2 Beauty Tools
- Tori Spelling Reveals If She Regrets 90210 Reboot After Jennie Garth's Comments
- Tori Spelling Reveals If She Regrets 90210 Reboot After Jennie Garth's Comments
Recommendation
-
Barbora Krejcikova calls out 'unprofessional' remarks about her appearance
-
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis on their ‘Warriors’ musical concept album with Lauryn Hill
-
NAACP president urges Missouri governor to halt execution planned for next week
-
Prosecutors charge 10 with failing to disperse during California protest
-
Kalen DeBoer, Jalen Milroe save Alabama football season, as LSU's Brian Kelly goes splat
-
As Jimmy Carter nears his 100th birthday, a musical gala celebrates the ‘rock-and-roll president’
-
'Bachelorette' contestant Devin Strader's ex took out restraining order after burglary
-
Jason Kelce returns to Philly, Travis Kelce takes on Chiefs bias on 'New Heights' podcast