MONTPELIER, Vt. -
Allegations of overtime fraud against Vt. State Police Sgt. Jim Deeghan had us wondering how state employee timecards work.
Each employee has an Excel spreadsheet that they fill out on a biweekly basis. Employees have to enter specific codes for overtime hours. Another trooper was tipped off to the alleged fraud by a code for a shift Deeghan didn't work, but had written on his timesheet anyway. A supervisor for each department signs the bottom of each sheet before sending them to payroll.
State officials say they hope a supervisor would catch any incorrect hours, but the responsibility falls on the individual employee.
"It's not an honor system. It's not something where someone fills in their time and they get paid. A supervisor on a biweekly basis reviews the time sheets that were submitted and signs off on them," Vt. Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding said.
Spaulding says the state will continue to use this system for time sheets unless the Deeghan investigation reveals more eyes are needed on overtime.
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