Work & Wages guide

Clocked out, but still working?

Setup, closing, work texts, charting after your shift: put the extra work into plain words, and what your time record shows.

ClearRecourse.com is not a law firm. This guide is information, not legal advice. There’s nothing to fill in or send. Updated September 2026.

Does this sound like what happened?

For example:

  • You stayed to finish charting, cleanup, or a last customer after you punched out.
  • Opening or closing took time before or after you punched.
  • You answered work texts, calls, or emails after your shift.
  • Your time entries didn’t match the time you worked.

If it was mostly during lunch, the lunch guide may fit better. This guide doesn’t say what counts as work time, or what rules apply to your job.

Put the details in order

Write these down for yourself, in your own words. Nothing is entered or sent on this site.

  1. What you did

    The tasks before clocking in or after clocking out: setup, closing, texts, calls, emails, charting, or reports.

  2. How long it took

    About how many minutes, and how often. An estimate is fine; note that it’s your estimate.

  3. Who asked or knew

    Whether a manager asked for it, expected it, or knew about it.

  4. What your time record shows

    Whether your time entries showed all the time you worked, and whether anyone changed them.

Pay stubs, schedules, time records, or work messages may help you remember details. Nothing is uploaded on this site.

A few things worth knowing

Clear answers about this guide.

Does reading this guide decide anything about my situation?

No. This guide describes the work you did and what your time record shows. ClearRecourse.com doesn’t give legal advice or say what the law requires.

Are these notes sent anywhere?

No. The prompts are for your own notes. Nothing on this page is entered or submitted. There is no form or upload.

Is ClearRecourse.com a law firm?

No. ClearRecourse.com is a marketing and connection service, not a law firm. This site offers information only and doesn’t accept consultation requests.

What if it happened during lunch?

That is a separate guide. Read the lunch guide.

Your next step

Your notes are yours to use however you choose.

  • Contact a labor office

    For pay questions, you can contact your state labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

    State labor offices (dol.gov)

    Wage and Hour Division (dol.gov)

  • Talk to a lawyer of your choice

    You can bring your notes to any lawyer you choose. You don’t need ClearRecourse.com to do that.

  • See how ClearRecourse.com works

    How a connection with a law firm is designed to work. This site doesn’t make those connections.

    How it works