There are some situations in which your employer is allowed to alter a digital timesheet. But it is important that they do so correctly and legally.
In the past, most timesheets were physical, so alterations were very obvious. Today, many people sign in and out of work using a digital timesheet, so records are simply kept on the computer. Their employer also has access to the computer system and could theoretically change their start or end time.
Employers are responsible for keeping records of the hours that their employees have worked. They can make alterations to the timesheet, but it is very important for them to ensure that these alterations are accurate. Making inaccurate changes could be illegal and a form of wage theft.
When are alterations needed?
For example, say that an employee gets to work at nine in the morning, when their shift is supposed to start. But they forget to log in until lunchtime, when they realize they have not been recording their hours.
After the fact, their employer may log into the system and change their start time from lunch until nine. After all, that is an accurate representation of when the employee was actually on the job.
But if the employer intentionally reduced the hours that the employee had worked as a means of paying them less or ensuring that they did not receive overtime, then it would be wage theft. So the mere act of making changes is not inherently illegal, but that power could be used illegally in some situations.
As an employee, if you believe that you have been experiencing wage theft or that your employer has made illegal changes to your timesheet and work records, then it is crucial that you know exactly what legal options you have.