Ctx.SaveChanges() creates new records for related tables

Question

Ok, this is my first stab at EF Code first, so forgive me if this sounds stupid.
I have a simple database and want to add a record in the main trans table. It has 2 foreign keys to 2 reference tables. I wire up the data entry screen in WPF (MVVM) and populate the entity. This entity has the correct references to existing records in the
reference tables. 
However when I call save changes it adds the trans record, but also ADDS new records to the reference tables (producing duplicates). I do not want to add records to the reference tables, but rather use the existing records.
I'm sure it's a simple thing, but I am stuck.  Any help would be appreciated...
Thanks,

Answer 1

Thank you for the response. I probably didn't phrase it clearly...
I have a simple Warehouse attendance app that will record when people are absent and the reason. I have 2 fixed reference tables. One is a list of employees, the other is a list of reasons (s - Sick, V - Vacation, etc...)
User enters a date, then selects a employee from a drop down and a reason from a drop down.
01/08/2015      Joe Smith     S - Sick
Both the employee object and reason object (in my record class) point to valid existing records from their reference tables.(i.e employee Joe smith has an Id of 57) 
When I call ctx.SaveChanges();
it adds the record to the attendance file, but also adds a record to the employee and the reason table. I now have 2
Joe Smiths in the employee table as well as 2 S - Sick Reason codes.  Joe Smith was added again and now the employee object points to Joe Smith with an Id of 58.
Here is the record class:
public class Record
    public int Id { get; set; }      
    public virtual Employee Employee { get; set; }
    public virtual Reason Reason { get; set; }
    public DateTime Date { get; set; }
    public string Notes { get; set; }
    public Record()
        Date = DateTime.Now;
    public string DayOfWeek
        get { return Date.DayOfWeek.ToString(); }