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Can anyone help, have I been paid wrong? Not received expected wages..

63 replies

Meercat9 · 25/09/2025 05:10

Can anyone help please! I started an apprenticeship in a school as a TA on the 8th Sept as this was the day that the new term started. I did however attend an inset day on the 5th. I’m expecting an equal amount each of over 12 months, which is on my contract. However, I’ve been paid just over £200 less today which doesn’t make any sense. I presumed this was because we started back 8 days into September. But I was expecting the amount on my contract regardless as it’s a annualised salary and meant to be the same each month. Is this right? I also haven’t been paid for attending the INSET day on the 5th. Which is meant to be a paid training day.

OP posts:
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Barrenfieldoffucks · 26/09/2025 07:01

Mondayblues2 · 25/09/2025 19:11

We call it equated pay, for ‘term time only’ staff.

If term time is 38 weeks, and you get 5 weeks holiday, then you’re paid for 43 weeks per year. And if you’re part time, this fraction will also be applied to the offered salary.

So if the offered salary is £20k, for example, and you’re working 20 hours per week, the calculation would look like this:

20/37 x 43/52 x 20,000 = 8,939.71

This would then be divided by 12, so that you get an equal amount each month of the year. Obviously tax etc would be deducted

This is my experience. A lot of people go in expecting 20k divided by 12.

PicaK · 25/09/2025 19:38

Just checking you understand you need to sort out the tax code yourself. Did you have another job before this one? Did you send in your p45 to your current job?

Mondayblues2 · 25/09/2025 19:11

We call it equated pay, for ‘term time only’ staff.

If term time is 38 weeks, and you get 5 weeks holiday, then you’re paid for 43 weeks per year. And if you’re part time, this fraction will also be applied to the offered salary.

So if the offered salary is £20k, for example, and you’re working 20 hours per week, the calculation would look like this:

20/37 x 43/52 x 20,000 = 8,939.71

This would then be divided by 12, so that you get an equal amount each month of the year. Obviously tax etc would be deducted

popcornandpotatoes · 25/09/2025 14:59

TY78910 · 25/09/2025 13:40

It started on the 8th but she voluntarily attended a day on the 5th. It would make sense in most payrolls to be paid the assumed salary from 1-30 then anything outside of ‘assumed’ (deductions, annual leave, overtime) is calculated within a ‘payroll cut off period’ and any corrections are then made on the following pay check. Payroll cut off is unique to each business and OP can check that within her contract

She literally says her contract started on the first. But whatever, I only work in hr in an education setting

TY78910 · 25/09/2025 13:40

popcornandpotatoes · 25/09/2025 13:31

Yes obviously, but ops contract started on 1st September.

It started on the 8th but she voluntarily attended a day on the 5th. It would make sense in most payrolls to be paid the assumed salary from 1-30 then anything outside of ‘assumed’ (deductions, annual leave, overtime) is calculated within a ‘payroll cut off period’ and any corrections are then made on the following pay check. Payroll cut off is unique to each business and OP can check that within her contract

popcornandpotatoes · 25/09/2025 13:31

TY78910 · 25/09/2025 12:49

The mystery has been solved as it was tax code related however -

let’s say a salaried employee takes a week off unpaid leave in the middle of their month - they would not expect to be paid for the time off so that would be deducted

by the same logic, if someone had started working half way through the month, they should not expect a full month’s pay as they would not have worked for that period

Yes obviously, but ops contract started on 1st September.

TY78910 · 25/09/2025 12:49

popcornandpotatoes · 25/09/2025 12:29

I'm.not sure that's right. She should have a salary based on 30 hours x 38 weeks or whatever, then it's divided by 12.

The mystery has been solved as it was tax code related however -

let’s say a salaried employee takes a week off unpaid leave in the middle of their month - they would not expect to be paid for the time off so that would be deducted

by the same logic, if someone had started working half way through the month, they should not expect a full month’s pay as they would not have worked for that period

UrsulaBelle · 25/09/2025 12:48

I didn't see the OP was on emergency tax before I replied. But I still think they have probably started their pay from 5th September giving a short month in September. My pay is also divided into 12 equal months despite being term time only but if you start partway through a month, you won't be paid for a full month.

popcornandpotatoes · 25/09/2025 12:29

TY78910 · 25/09/2025 09:04

You need to find out when your payroll cut off is. Just because you’re salaried doesn’t mean you will get paid equal amounts every month. The salary would be divided based on how much of that period you have worked. So you wouldn’t expect to be paid for a full month’s work if you’ve only worked a week. It will be pro rata based on the average hours you have worked.

I'm.not sure that's right. She should have a salary based on 30 hours x 38 weeks or whatever, then it's divided by 12.

Tiredofwhataboutery · 25/09/2025 12:11

Meercat9 · 25/09/2025 10:24

Thank you, I did fill out a HMRC starter checklist before I started. I thought that was for the tax code

It is but tbh I’ve filled one in before and still been stuck on emergency tax for months. Downloaded HMRC app and they fixed it before my next pay. I didn’t get my excess tax back till March though despite it being fixed in December.

Annony331 · 25/09/2025 11:05

Usually the apprenticeship is a ,maximum of 30 hours. Inset days are included in normal pay. School staff do not get additional pay for attending.

Without knowing the hours it really is difficult to help

take the amount divide by the minimum pay and that should give you an idea of the hours. Then times by 12 to give you a yearly amount.

your pay slip should be online and I would ask school to ensure you have your own log in details

UrsulaBelle · 25/09/2025 10:46

Hi OP. I had exactly the same issue when I changed schools a few years ago. I was paid until 31st August at my old school, (pay accrued throughout the previous school year) but as term started on the 5th September at my new school, the first pay packet was less than a full month. It seemed unfair, but that's the way they do it.

QforCucumber · 25/09/2025 10:35

@Theyreeatingthedogs no it doesn't - employee NI isn't deducted until you reach 1047/month, or 241 a week.

Meercat9 · 25/09/2025 10:24

Tiredofwhataboutery · 25/09/2025 10:23

Thought that might be it, it will get resolved and you’ll get a tax rebate but I’ve found informing HMRC helps them join the dots faster.

www.gov.uk/guidance/tell-hmrc-if-you-have-a-new-job-or-more-than-one-job

Thank you, I did fill out a HMRC starter checklist before I started. I thought that was for the tax code

OP posts:
Tiredofwhataboutery · 25/09/2025 10:23

Meercat9 · 25/09/2025 09:39

So my monthly wages given to me is right, but turns out that I have had emergency tax code at the moment

Thought that might be it, it will get resolved and you’ll get a tax rebate but I’ve found informing HMRC helps them join the dots faster.

www.gov.uk/guidance/tell-hmrc-if-you-have-a-new-job-or-more-than-one-job

Meercat9 · 25/09/2025 09:45

Theyreeatingthedogs · 25/09/2025 09:01

Are you sure? NI kicks in at £125/week.

The Gov UK website says £242/week for NI

OP posts:
Meercat9 · 25/09/2025 09:39

So my monthly wages given to me is right, but turns out that I have had emergency tax code at the moment

OP posts:
TY78910 · 25/09/2025 09:04

You need to find out when your payroll cut off is. Just because you’re salaried doesn’t mean you will get paid equal amounts every month. The salary would be divided based on how much of that period you have worked. So you wouldn’t expect to be paid for a full month’s work if you’ve only worked a week. It will be pro rata based on the average hours you have worked.

CantHoldMeDown · 25/09/2025 09:04

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Theyreeatingthedogs · 25/09/2025 09:01

Meercat9 · 25/09/2025 08:55

I will ask regarding pay slip and will look on there. I don’t earn enough to have any deductions, only pension, so I’m unsure. Thank you for your replies!

Are you sure? NI kicks in at £125/week.

Hollowvoice · 25/09/2025 09:01

Also with regards to the Inset day it'll likely be paid next month, all our overtime is paid a month in arrears so everyone in on the Sept Inset will be paid for it in October

Meercat9 · 25/09/2025 08:55

I will ask regarding pay slip and will look on there. I don’t earn enough to have any deductions, only pension, so I’m unsure. Thank you for your replies!

OP posts:
Ohnobackagain · 25/09/2025 08:53

@Meercat9 what does your contract say about pay dates? I’ve mostly been paid monthly but in some cases, mid-month so I got 2 weeks in arrears and 2 in advance, then other companies I’ve been paid on 26th but covering 1-31st. Also depending on whether or not you had a p45 to give payroll, if it missed the cut-off then you may have had extra deductions. Pay slip usually makes it clearer but I realise you don’t have that - so check your contract and ask for a pay slip so you can check that too.

WhereDidSummerGoAgain · 25/09/2025 08:47

Your employer should give you a payslip, you need to ask them for it as a first step.

Once you have that, if it still doesn't make sense then you can ask the school to explain it to you.

popcornandpotatoes · 25/09/2025 08:46

ItsOnlyHobnobs · 25/09/2025 08:40

My suspicion is there has been some confusion of gross/net pay, and you didn’t expect to be paying £200 a month in tax, NI, pension.

I think this might be right as you mention your contract showing net pay, which is really very unlikely

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