Not been paid for work...again...how do I escalate?

[ChefsKisser]

I have a proper job I do 3 days a week and another job at a local Uni I do one day a week. The uni work I get paid like a contractor (I have to complete a form and submit this and I get paid on the next payroll). Cut off for that month is something like 10th of the Month and I always submit it by the 1st.

This month I haven't been paid. This happened before but it was much less so I could wait for next month but I'm £600 down that I can't afford. I emailed my own department to check the form had been sent and the finance lady chased up the main finance who sent an email basically saying 'sorry too many forms this month, will be paid next month'. I have emailed this lady since having this email forwarded saying it will cause financial difficulty and is there any way I can be paid with no response.

I'm so annoyed- firstly that they didn't warn me I wouldn't be paid, secondly the blaise 'oh it'll be next month' and thirdly no response from head of finance. Will they pay it next month? March and Aprils pay as owed or just one month and then another delay for the next?

How and who do I raise this with to get it sorted? I can't live on fresh air!

Call the finance department yourself?

Raise a dispute with your union?

I'd send an email back saying the terms of contract/agreement state payment by x date and they are in breach. I'd say that it it is not OK for them to be so cavalier about making payments that are due ( the excuse is totally unacceptable) and I would be sending it to everyone in the finance chain, your line manager and theirs. I'd escalate this right up to the top. It's outrageous that the finance dept should think that is an appropriate way to respond.

Then I would be altering the terms of your services and be looking for other work.

Isn’t it something like you MUST be paid a certain percent of your wage (60? 70?) asap but maybe that’s not for contract workers?

Can anyone else correct me?

Try to get the name of Head of Payroll and contact them directly. Explain this isn't the first time this has happened (give dates if possible) and ask if they can do a manual payment instead of waiting until next payroll.

Try to get hold of the Director of Finance's PA and see if she/he is helpful and can guide you through the best internal people to deal with it.

Make a complaint to the Director of Finance and the Director of HR. Ask them what steps they are going to take to improve the process.

If no joy and you're really pissed off, submit a FOI request asking how many times timesheet staff haven't been paid on time in the past 2 years, and what was the total value of the delayed payments. If it's very high, make a complaint to the Vice Chancellor, copied to the Directors of Finance and HR.

Thanks all. Tried to call but couldn't speak to anyone senior as they were wfh so was told to email. Emailed head of finance 2 days ago- no answer. Have emailed again cc'ing in my project manager.

I'll look and see if head of payroll is the same person and see if I can email or ring them too. Aargh it's so frustrating! Just pay me!

I'd escalate and go hard on the cc's: make sure everyone you can think of is on it.

Try to make your language factual (ie don't plead hardship) and stress how unacceptable it is that you submitted in good time and the fault lies solely with their dept.

What would happen if you were to down tools and refuse to work until you get paid? What's in your Ts&C's?

Try to make your language factual (ie don't plead hardship)

If this is causing you hardship this time then that is factual and you should make a point of it.

What time of month is pay day? Middle or end?

@zzplea end- penultimate day of the month
@Uncooperativefingers I suppose I wouldn't be paid as I submit a form with how many hours I have worked and they pay me based on that. I don't get sickness/holiday pay etc sadly

So there's time for them to do a special payment run before next payroll. I think it's called an off-cycle or out-of-cycle payment. They don't like doing them for minor things but kick up a stink and explain you submitted your form in time but it wasn't processed by Finance. Sounds like there may be other people in the same situation, so they could be placated by being paid before next payday too. It might carry more weight if a lot of staff are affected.

And also ask for an assurance that your latest submitted form will be processed in time.

No reason why they can't pay you the bulk of what you are owed as an advance and then process it properly in payroll.

Don't email people. Ring them or go and stand at their desk until they sort this out.

"Next month...ah well, never mind" is unacceptable.

Also I would not do a stick more work for them until I'm paid for the last lot and can be reassured that I'll be paid on time next time.

What does your contract say about payment terms?

I would be polite and factual. Can you call on teams even if people are working from home? Alternatively try putting a meeting in.

I'm really surprised they're being difficult about this, we would have been really concerned about this at any of the places I've worked. Not that that helps you now, but I guess just to assure you that their reaction is not normal and wanting to be paid totally is.

Sounds like you're a casual employee, I also do work like this for a university. I've never had it where I haven't been paid though, your line manager should be the point of contact to escalate it. If there's a problem with the timesheet they email us to change so correct and processable and have our correct bank details right at the start.
It sounds very shoddy to just say you'll get paid the next month and I would be looking for a better employer to be honest. The only thing I can think is that the university is in financial difficulties, however the most vulnerable employees such as casual staff should not be the ones paying the price.

Add an admin fee for nonpayment of invoices. Make it big.

What everyone else has said - plus this could also have complications for the university as it seems the unpaid invoices are from the previous financial year

Look up the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act, if you are paid on invoice then it applies to you.

Doesn't sound like the OP is submitting invoices, but is a casual worker submitting timesheets.

University financial year runs from August to July, it's not the same as the tax year.

OP, a number of universities are on the brink of bankruptcy. The one nearest to me has recently laid off hundreds of staff. Someone I know who worked there (contract work, like yours) went through something very similar to your experience in the couple of months before she was let go. It might be a good idea to start looking for alternative work. Sorry.

Look at your contract and see what the terms are for late payment. Some contracts will allow you to enforce interest on overdue payments. And keep giving them grief about this, it's not good enough.

I know- technically I’m kept on until august at which point I’ll increase my hours in my normal job. It wouldn’t be the end of the world is the work dried up but I’d need to pick up the hours elsewhere. Thanks for all the advice- I’m going to go in tomorrow and try and speak to someone.

I remember your last post on this. How did you get it resolved then?

Are you sure it’s payroll that pay you? Do you know what worker status you have, are you an independent contractor for example?

If you are an independent contractor, then they should be paying you re the terms of your invoice / contract. And I believe it’s a civil matter rather than an employment one (same as paying a plumber or builder), you need to chase up accounts rather than payroll I would have thought.

If you are employed (e.g. they are deducting PAYE and giving you a proper payslip) then union all the way, as well as head of payroll etc etc.