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AIBU?

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Original poster

...to be a bit upset by this

16 replies

gettngbetter · 26/02/2013 19:08

I got paid last Friday and I got about £300 more than normal.

My boss called me in in Monday and said there had been a mix up in the payroll department and some of us were overpaid and others underpaid. She said I could keep the overpayment. The people who were underpaid would have the balance paid to them.

So she said I was one of the lucky ones who did well out of the situation. I was delighted as my wages aren't that amazing normally. I didn't feel too bad keeping money I hadn't technically earned because I work for a massive profitable company and £300 wouldn't be a big deal to them.

But this morning the senior manager called me in and said they'd decided now to take back the money from those of us who were overpaid. He didnt explain why they'd changed their minds - but id say they were trying to fix the situation so someone wouldnt get in trouble.

I felt a bit upset - but didn't really feel like I could say anything as technically it wasn't money I'd earned. And I don't want to annoy my manager as I'm sure ill do something wrong someday and might need him to cover for me.

I agreed to pay it back but said I was a bit upset. The manager was being really nice & apologetic.

The worst bit was when my manager discussed the options for me to repay it - including withdrawing the cash from the bank and handing it back to them.

The whole thing just made me feel so small for some reason.

OP posts:
pnin · 26/02/2013 19:10

You do have to pay it back but I do sympathise.

My employer cocked up my flexible work

StickEmUp · 26/02/2013 19:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pnin · 26/02/2013 19:11

Oops, sorry.

Cocked up my flexible work

StickEmUp · 26/02/2013 19:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Writehand · 26/02/2013 19:12

Miserable situation, but as you say, you're going to have to put up with it. You don't want to cause bad feeling, especially in the current job market.

TBH, I'd be cross with your manager. Telling you to keep the money was pretty rash. But again, making a fuss will only make things worse.

You have my sympathy, for what it's worth. No need to feel small. Smile

ChipTheFish · 26/02/2013 19:13

On the bright side at least you found out that you weren't getting to keep it relatively quickly. Imagine if you had spent it like I would have done

pnin · 26/02/2013 19:14

Oops, sorry.

Cocked up my flexible working request and paid me for 6 months on full pay instead of three days a week. For about 8 months

I did't notice as I'd been on assignment in asia on 10 percent tax for ears, then on mat leave with my first.

Took me until well after my second child to pay it all back.

Grrrrrrr

jeee · 26/02/2013 19:16

My guess is someone worked out that the underpaid people were going to be pretty annoyed when they discovered other people had just been given a pretty generous bonus. If they didn't overpay everyone they would then have allegations of unfairness all over the place.

But you're not being in the least bit unreasonable to be a bit upset about this.

Original poster
gettngbetter · 26/02/2013 19:20

jeee You might be right - I was told initially not to say anything to the others about the overpayment in case they might be annoyed or upset - and as it turns out I'm the one who is a bit upset!

OP posts:
Original poster
gettngbetter · 26/02/2013 19:22

pnin - ok your situation sounds much worse then mine!
chipthefish - you're right - lucky I didn't spend it - although I did have some plans for it!

OP posts:
fascicle · 26/02/2013 19:36

gettingbetter: I was delighted as my wages aren't that amazing normally. I didn't feel too bad keeping money I hadn't technically earned because I work for a massive profitable company and £300 wouldn't be a big deal to them.

Just wondering if part of you being upset might be to do with feeling underpaid in the first place? If so, is there anything you can do to increase your pay with your employer?

Original poster
gettngbetter · 26/02/2013 19:50

fascile no hope of a payrise unfortunately. Seems to be the case in a lot of jobs at the moment that employers want you to work harder than ever for the same money or less. I suppose it should be grateful I have a job

OP posts:
undercoverhousewife · 26/02/2013 19:54

Aw, a dashing of expectations is always hard.

A word of warning though - watch out that you are not taxed on the overpayment without getting a deduction for the repayment by you. These things are not symmetrical in the world of PAYE. Ideally, get a written undertaking from your employer before returning the money, that they will indemnify you for any tax cost OR pay them back only the NET amount - the amount of cash you were left with after PAYE - and get them to sort out the tax themselves with HMRC.

ClutchingPearls · 26/02/2013 19:55

I wouldn't be paying it back in cash, I would expect them to reclaim in via the bank or alter my future pay cheques. Presumably you have paid national insurance and tax on that, it will be included in this years income total which could affect future credits/benefits.

Also it may crop up again so you need evidence of your paying it back.

ClutchingPearls · 26/02/2013 19:57

aah cross posted with undercover, who put it much better than my rambling.

Original poster
gettngbetter · 26/02/2013 20:01

Thanks undercoverhousewife and clutchingpearls* - will have to check out about the tax - didn't even consider that!

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