Can PA UC disqualify you for 'theft of time' from an accidental timesheet error?

This exact thing happened to me at a factory job in Allentown!!! They called it 'time theft' too and fired me over a 15-minute discrepancy that was literally just me forgetting to clock back in from break. The UC people initially DENIED my claim saying I was fired for 'willful misconduct' but I appealed and WON. You need to be ready to prove it wasn't intentional at your appeal hearing. Do you have any evidence that shows it was just a mistake? Any witnesses? Previous good timekeeping records?

The key issue here is whether your actions constitute 'willful misconduct' under PA unemployment rules. A single timesheet error, especially if it was genuinely accidental, typically would not rise to that level. The burden is on your employer to prove you deliberately falsified your timesheet with the intent to defraud them. When you receive your Notice of Determination, read it carefully. If denied, you have 15 days to file an appeal. During the appeal hearing, emphasize: 1) Your clean work history, 2) That this was an isolated incident, 3) That you made an honest mistake without fraudulent intent. Employers often don't show up to these hearings, which works in your favor.

I think ur overthinking this. One small mistake on a timesheet is hardly theft! UC isn't gonna deny u for that unless ur employer can prove u were doing it regularly or somethin. Just be honest when u file and explain exactly what happened.

After trying for TWO WEEKS to get through to someone at PA UC about my own misconduct issue (was late 3 times in one month, got fired), I finally discovered Claimyr and it was a total game-changer. Got connected to an actual UC rep in under an hour! They helped me explain my side of the story and my claim was approved the next day. Their video demo shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 - saved me so much stress compared to calling the regular number and getting busy signals all day. The website is claimyr.com if you need to talk to someone about your case.

This is why I HATE at-will employment in PA. Companies can fire you for the tiniest mistake and call it whatever they want! "Theft of time" sounds way worse than "made a 30-minute error on timesheet" but they use these big terms to try to block your benefits. The whole system is designed to protect employers not workers. I got fired once for "unauthorized computer use" which was literally just checking my personal email during lunch break. UC still approved me though because it wasn't willful misconduct.

Based on what you've described, you should qualify for benefits, but be prepared for potential challenges. Here's what you need to know about PA UC and misconduct cases: 1. For a misconduct disqualification, your employer must prove your actions were deliberate and against their interests 2. A single timesheet error, if truly accidental, typically doesn't meet the willful misconduct standard 3. Prepare documentation showing your good work history and any evidence that supports it was an unintentional error 4. If denied, appeal immediately - many initial denials are overturned on appeal 5. In your claim filing and any communications, be consistent about the facts and emphasize it was an unintentional error Don't panic - many employers claim misconduct but fail to provide sufficient evidence during the UC determination process.

did u sign anything when they fired u?? be careful because sometimes HR makes u sign things that look like standard exit paperwork but actually say ur admitting to the policy violation!! happened to my brother-in-law and they used it against him in his unemployment hearing

Just wanted to update you - I remembered another thing that helped win my case! The UC referee asked my employer if they had any proof that I wasn't actually working during the 15 minutes in question. They couldn't prove I wasn't there working (because I was!) so that really helped my case. If your coworkers saw you working during that 30-minute period, that could be super important evidence!

One final piece of advice: when you're completing your weekly certifications while waiting for a determination, make sure you answer all questions accurately and consistently with your initial claim. Contradicting yourself between your initial claim and weekly certifications can create additional issues. Also, continue to meet all work search requirements (applying to at least two jobs per week and completing one work search activity) and document everything carefully. This won't affect the misconduct determination, but it ensures you don't have any other issues with your claim.

I went through something very similar in Chester County last year. Got fired for what they called "falsifying records" when I accidentally put the wrong date on a safety inspection form. The employer made it sound like I was committing fraud, but it was literally just writing 3/15 instead of 3/14. UC initially denied me, but I appealed and won because I could prove it was an honest mistake - I had photos on my phone from that day showing I was actually doing the inspection when I said I was. The key thing that helped me was showing a pattern of honest behavior (no previous write-ups, good reviews) and proving I had no motive to lie about something so small. Your situation sounds even more clear-cut since you were actually working during that time period. Document everything and don't let their scary terminology intimidate you!

I'm going through something similar right now - got fired for what they called "timesheet fraud" when I accidentally entered 8 hours instead of 7.5 hours on one day (forgot I took a longer lunch). The HR manager made it sound like I was stealing from the company, but it was literally a 30-minute honest mistake! I filed for UC two weeks ago and I'm still waiting to hear back. Reading all these responses is actually making me feel more hopeful - it sounds like if you can show it was genuinely accidental and you have a good work history, you've got a decent chance. The thing that's been bothering me is how they can turn such a small mistake into this huge "theft" accusation. But like others have said, UC looks at it differently than employers do. Keep us updated on how your case goes - I'll probably be dealing with a similar situation soon!

I work in HR for a manufacturing company in PA and have seen this exact situation multiple times. What your employer is calling "theft of time" is really just a timesheet error, and the distinction matters a lot for UC purposes. The fact that you self-reported the correction (even with the wrong time) actually works in your favor - someone intentionally committing time theft wouldn't voluntarily bring attention to a timesheet discrepancy. When UC reviews your case, they'll look at whether you had fraudulent intent, not just whether you violated a company policy. Your 3-year clean record is huge - document everything about your work history, get those coworker statements about you working during that time, and don't let the employer's dramatic language scare you. I've seen way more of these cases get approved than denied, especially when the employee can show it was genuinely accidental.

I went through something almost identical in Pittsburgh about 6 months ago! Got terminated for "time theft" when I accidentally wrote down 2:15 instead of 2:45 for my return from lunch break. Like you, I had been with the company for years (4 years) with zero issues. The employer made it sound like I was some kind of criminal, but when I appealed my initial denial, the referee saw right through it. What really helped my case was showing that I had actually LOST money on other timesheet corrections in the past - like when I forgot to clock out for breaks and had to correct those DOWN. This proved I wasn't trying to game the system for extra pay. Also, make sure you emphasize that you filled out the correction form voluntarily - that shows good faith. The hearing officer specifically asked my employer why someone trying to steal time would draw attention to their own timesheet, and they had no good answer. Keep your chin up - honest mistakes happen and UC knows the difference between that and actual theft!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and your post really hit home for me. Got fired last month for what they called "falsification of company records" when I accidentally put down that I worked until 5:30 PM instead of 5:00 PM on my timesheet. I had stayed late to finish organizing some inventory but forgot I had actually left 30 minutes earlier than I wrote down. Just like you, it was a completely honest mistake - I wasn't trying to steal anything! The company made it sound like I was committing some major crime, but it was literally just a memory error after a long day. I filed for UC three weeks ago and I'm still waiting to hear back, but reading all these success stories in the comments is giving me hope. It sounds like PA UC really does look at intent and your work history, not just the employer's dramatic accusations. I had a clean record for 2.5 years before this incident, so hopefully that will count for something. Thanks for posting this - it's really comforting to know I'm not the only one going through this kind of situation!

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress! I went through something very similar about 8 months ago in Lancaster County. Got fired for "time theft" when I accidentally recorded my lunch break as 30 minutes instead of the 45 minutes I actually took. Just like you, it was a genuine mistake - I was rushing to fill out the correction form and wrote down the wrong time. The company made it sound like I was deliberately stealing from them, but it was honestly just human error after working there for over 2 years with no issues. I filed for UC and was initially denied, but I appealed and WON! The key things that helped me were: 1) My clean work history with no previous disciplinary actions, 2) Proof that I was actually working productively (my supervisor confirmed I had completed all my assigned tasks that day), and 3) The fact that I had voluntarily submitted the correction form in the first place. The hearing officer pointed out that someone actually trying to commit time theft wouldn't draw attention to their own timesheet. Your 3-year clean record is going to be huge in your favor. Don't let their scary "theft of time" language intimidate you - UC looks at intent, not just company policy violations. Keep all your performance reviews and get those coworker statements ready. You've got this!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this situation - the stress of being fired and then worrying about unemployment benefits is overwhelming! I went through something almost identical last year in Philadelphia. Got terminated for what HR called "timesheet falsification" when I accidentally entered my start time as 7:30 AM instead of 8:00 AM on a correction form. Like you, it was completely unintentional - I had been thinking about my usual start time from my previous position and just wrote it down automatically. The company made it sound like I was committing fraud, but UC saw it differently. I was initially approved, then the employer appealed, but I won at the hearing. What really helped was showing that I had a history of honest timesheet corrections where I sometimes actually reduced my hours when I made mistakes. Also, the fact that you were actually working during that disputed time period is huge - get those coworker statements! The hearing officer in my case specifically asked why someone trying to steal time would voluntarily fill out a correction form and draw attention to their timesheet. Your clean 3-year record is going to be your strongest asset. Don't let their dramatic language scare you - "theft of time" sounds terrible, but UC looks at whether you had fraudulent intent, not just company policy violations. Document everything and stay strong!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! I had a very similar experience about a year ago in Allegheny County. Got fired for "theft of time" when I accidentally put down that I worked until 6:00 PM instead of 5:45 PM on my timesheet correction. Just like your situation, it was a completely honest mistake - I had been working late that week and got my days mixed up. The company's HR department made it sound like I was some kind of criminal, using all this scary legal language about "fraudulent documentation" and "violation of company trust." But here's the good news - I was APPROVED for UC benefits! The key was showing that it was genuinely accidental. I gathered all my performance reviews (5 years of excellent ratings), got statements from coworkers who saw me working that day, and most importantly, I found several old timesheet corrections where I had actually corrected my hours DOWN when I made mistakes. This proved I wasn't trying to game the system. Your 3-year clean record is going to be huge in your favor. The fact that you filled out a correction form voluntarily is also really important - the UC examiner asked why someone trying to steal time would draw attention to their own timesheet. Make sure you emphasize that you were actually working during that disputed 30 minutes and get those coworker statements ready. PA UC really does look at intent, not just company policy violations. Don't let their dramatic "theft" language intimidate you - you've got this!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress! As someone who works in payroll for a PA company, I see timesheet corrections all the time and honest mistakes like yours happen more often than you'd think. What your employer is calling "theft of time" is really just a clerical error, and that distinction matters hugely for UC purposes. The fact that you voluntarily submitted a correction form actually works strongly in your favor - someone with fraudulent intent wouldn't draw attention to their own timesheet discrepancy. Your 3-year clean record is going to be your biggest asset here. I'd recommend gathering: 1) All your performance reviews showing good attendance/conduct, 2) Any previous timesheet corrections you've made (especially if any reduced your hours), 3) Statements from coworkers who saw you working during that disputed time. PA UC looks at whether you had intent to defraud the company, not just whether you technically violated a policy. From what I see in payroll disputes, cases like yours where there's clear evidence it was accidental usually get approved, even if there's an initial denial. Don't let their scary "theft" language intimidate you - you were working, you made an honest mistake, and you have a solid work history to back that up.

I went through almost the exact same thing in Bucks County about 9 months ago! Got fired for "time theft" when I accidentally wrote 2:00 PM instead of 2:30 PM on a lunch break correction form. The company made it sound like I was committing grand larceny, but it was literally just a brain fog moment after working a 10-hour shift. Like you, I had years of clean work history (4 years, no write-ups). Here's what happened with my UC claim: Initially DENIED because the employer made it sound so dramatic in their response. But I appealed and WON because I could prove it was genuinely accidental. What saved me was showing that I had actually made timesheet corrections in the PAST that reduced my hours when I made mistakes - this proved I wasn't trying to scam extra pay. The hearing referee specifically asked my employer: "If this person was trying to steal time, why would they voluntarily submit a correction form that draws attention to their timesheet?" They had no good answer. Your case sounds even stronger than mine because you were actually working during that disputed time and have witnesses! Get those coworker statements ASAP. PA UC really does look at fraudulent INTENT, not just policy violations. Don't let their scary "theft" language psych you out - you've got solid evidence this was just human error.