Delayed Salary

[Skyedriver]

Here's a little bit of an annoyance the wife has just suffered.
She started a part time job, along with two other girls on the 2nd September.
I won't name the employer.
Yesterday (15th September) she was told unceremoniously, without any apology, that the three of them wouldn't get paid this month, they'd have to wait until the end of October as the paperwork hadn't been processed.
So that's two months without any pay. Now as far as money is concerned she's not too worried but one of the girls presumably short of money was in tears.
If it were me I'd just walk away but that's an impulse that would probably result in not getting anything for the last two weeks.
the worry is, will they get paid at the end of October.....

[Nezquick]

It's frustrating but isn't this normal?

If you start at a company after a certain date then you sometimes have to miss a pay-day before you get your salary, but then get the extra amount you weren't paid in the next one.

It's happened to me a few times and I've planned around it (i.e. saved some beforehand) but if they've done it without telling them it's a bit off.

[minghis]

I'm staggered these things can happen to people, but not surprised. If it's a big company it could well be simply the procedure has not been followed but it's still wrong.

Not 100% sure but I believe part time workers have the same rights as full time and if work has commenced then whether in writing or not a contract applies, on that basis I'd be inclined to invest in speaking to an employment law professional. Most larger lawyer practices have one, but we use a company called The Legal Director, they're like a bank of freelance law specialists and we've had brilliant service/advice from them.

[surveyor]

To me. this must mean that a) someone cocked up, and b) someone can't be bothered to sort the cock-up out.

[Foliage]

The problem isn't the fact its happening its the way its been handled id presume, in a good company the HR or finance director would be bending over backwards to make sure they get paid something this month.

Personally id be walking.

[KevinCamaroSS]

Nezquick said:

It's frustrating but isn't this normal?

If you start at a company after a certain date then you sometimes have to miss a pay-day before you get your salary, but then get the extra amount you weren't paid in the next one.

It's happened to me a few times and I've planned around it (i.e. saved some beforehand) but if they've done it without telling them it's a bit off.

The second of the month is hardly too late to process the paperwork.

I would ask for a loan, to be paid back from the first payroll run.

[Skyedriver]

surveyor said:

To me. this must mean that a) someone cocked up, and b) someone can't be bothered to sort the cock-up out.

My thoughts exactly
The number of times she had to ring the personnel people about simple things not being sent before she started was a warning.

And yes, if I'd started on the 15th (the salary cut off date) I'd have expected to wait until October but not the 2nd of September.

There's a believe here that they are obliged to make a payment (out of petty cash if necessary) but not sure about the legal requirements of that.

[Skyedriver]

Foliage said:

The problem isn't the fact its happening its the way its been handled id presume, in a good company the HR or finance director would be bending over backwards to make sure they get paid something this month.

Personally id be walking.

Agreed and yes, me too.

I won't say who the employer is to avoid repercussions but there are a lot of people on their payroll doing various rolls but the reputation of this employer is typical of similar, nationwide.

[Countdown]

Skyedriver said:

Here's a little bit of an annoyance the wife has just suffered.
She started a part time job, along with two other girls on the 2nd September.
I won't name the employer.
Yesterday (15th September) she was told unceremoniously, without any apology, that the three of them wouldn't get paid this month, they'd have to wait until the end of October as the paperwork hadn't been processed.
So that's two months without any pay. Now as far as money is concerned she's not too worried but one of the girls presumably short of money was in tears.
If it were me I'd just walk away but that's an impulse that would probably result in not getting anything for the last two weeks.
the worry is, will they get paid at the end of October.....

What's the size of the company? It's very easy to do a cash advance unless the HR/Payroll people are lazy and or incompetent. Another thing to bear in mind is that she'll end up paying more NI than she should if she gets 2 months' worth of pay in one month.

[prand]

surveyor said:

To me. this must mean that a) someone cocked up, and b) someone can't be bothered to sort the cock-up out.

...and as another poster says, I'd be asking for an advance of some kind to be paid back, particularly if the delay in payment can be shown to create some personal hardship. I'd also not go to the immediate manager, as they might be the reason for above.

[xjay1337]

No pay, no work.

I was not paid some expenses at my previous job, after walking in on the Op director and finance lady discussing why they weren't going to pay me (over a discrepancy of 4 miles - they were sad and checked the routes exactly via Google Maps).

Google said to get off the A34, drive through Hungerford and get on the M4.
Where as, in reality, no-one does that, they just go A34, M4. Which is a few miles longer.

After saying "do you happen to be talking about me by any chance?" to which I received a few mumbles I explained the situation and that I needed the money (it was about £350). I was told no, it would be processed next month as it was "my mistake".

At which point I exploded infront of most of the office saying it was an absolute joke that payments would not be made on time due to over-zealous administration and assumptions of my route taken, and if they weren't going to pay me I would not be attending customer site that afternoon and would not until such time that I was paid correctly.
You can't really threaten to not work as expenses and salary are different.

If my company did not pay me I would not work, or, expect a cash advance which is then taken from the subsequent paycheck.

I get paid at the end of the month and I assume like most people all of my bills and D/D go out on the 1st. So £16 bill per missed D/D and £8 per day per D/D overdrawn, that would soon add up.

Needless to say after kicking off I got my money paid directly to me THAT MORNING.

[Jasandjules]

They accept it is their fault that the payment won't be made?

Then escalate it.

[Muncher]

The NHS are terrible for this, my wife (senior NHS role) is paid late, or significantly underpaid virtually every single month. It usually takes god knows how many phone calls and letters to be paid and it usually takes 3-4 months to get the money back.

[omgus]

surveyor said:

To me. this must mean that a) someone cocked up, and b) someone can't be bothered to sort the cock-up out.

That pretty much sums up the situation.

I am assuming this is a service company.
Get head office number, call HR, explain situation.
Don't bother calling payroll direct as in most companies they need HR or direct management to approve advances.

[Countdown]

Muncher said:

The NHS are terrible for this, my wife (senior NHS role) is paid late, or significantly underpaid virtually every single month. It usually takes god knows how many phone calls and letters to be paid and it usually takes 3-4 months to get the money back.

I used to work in NHS Finance - just out of curiosity do her earnings vary from month to month? It's unfortunately not uncommon for NHS staff to be paid late/incorrectly if they are working shifts/rotas or doing overtime/unsocial hours and submitting timesheets. It's down to size/bureaucracy as much as anything and the same happens in private sector organisations (although they rarely have the NUMEROUS allowances that NHS have) However if it was a fixed salary (as the vast majority of senior roles tend to be) then i don't know why this should be happening.

[Skyedriver]

Not the NHS
Not health related but you're getting close

Edited by Skyedriver on Friday 16th September 12:55

[bga]

Countdown said:

What's the size of the company? It's very easy to do a cash advance unless the HR/Payroll people are lazy and or incompetent. Another thing to bear in mind is that she'll end up paying more NI than she should if she gets 2 months' worth of pay in one month.

It shouldn't be the case but the larger the company the harder it is to make a payment outside a scheduled run. That said, if the manager cared then it would be escalated until it got to someone with the clout to make it happen.

[Countdown]

bga said:

Countdown said:

What's the size of the company? It's very easy to do a cash advance unless the HR/Payroll people are lazy and or incompetent. Another thing to bear in mind is that she'll end up paying more NI than she should if she gets 2 months' worth of pay in one month.

It shouldn't be the case but the larger the company the harder it is to make a payment outside a scheduled run. That said, if the manager cared then it would be escalated until it got to someone with the clout to make it happen.

Yup - more often than not "operatonal" management don't know which person to speak to in Finance (who are generally extremely helpful). HR on the other hand enjoy nothing better than watching people suffer and plead - they believe they are on this earth to do the work of Satan.

[Countdown]

Skyedriver said:

Not the NHS
Not health related but you're getting close

Edited by Skyedriver on Friday 16th September 12:55

Senior NHS role but not in the NHS....

[Muncher]

Countdown said:

I used to work in NHS Finance - just out of curiosity do her earnings vary from month to month? It's unfortunately not uncommon for NHS staff to be paid late/incorrectly if they are working shifts/rotas or doing overtime/unsocial hours and submitting timesheets. It's down to size/bureaucracy as much as anything and the same happens in private sector organisations (although they rarely have the NUMEROUS allowances that NHS have) However if it was a fixed salary (as the vast majority of senior roles tend to be) then i don't know why this should be happening.

Yes, her shifts do vary and there are various allowances etc. The problem is they will acknowledge the problem on payday, say "oh he owe you £1,000 so we will pay you £300 this month then pay you the rest next month". They then fail to pay either and we have to chase and escalate it through about 10 phone calls and 3-4 months later she gets the balance, by which time she has been underpaid again so the cycle continues. They also said that because they hadn't paid her, none of her missing earnings during her maternity qualifying period would could so they would reduce her maternity pay too. Eventually they would sort it out, giving her a projection (but then failing to pay her it), but we have found incompetence at every level.