Overtime calculations

8 replies

carefreeeee · 09/03/2017 12:14

Just putting this up as an interesting bit of trivia really....

My Dad has recently retired from his old job and got a new job as a part time postman with Royal Mail. It seems to be standard that they are asked to do some overtime each week. He gets paid an hourly rate for overtime on top of his usual salary. The problem is that they are working it out wrong!

Overtime is paid to the nearest 15 minutes.

If he does an extra 2 and a half hours (= 2.5 hours), they are paying him for 2.30 hours.

If he does 1 hour 15 mins (=1.25 hours), they are paying him for 1.15 hours. and so on.

He has tried to mention this to the management but they just can't seem to understand the concept. Presumably they are doing the same thing for all their employees.

Does anyone work for Royal Mail and have a similar issue?

OP posts:

GoldenBlue · 09/03/2017 12:33

Are they working on the basis that the first 15 mins are 'free'? That isn't an unusual term in a contract so you might want to check before raising this.

Mouse510 · 09/03/2017 12:54

Are you taking the 1.15/1.30 from his payslip? Our payroll calculates and displays in hours and minutes so 1.15 for 1 and 1/4 hours. I had someone query it once and had to show them that the sum did add up. I.e. 1.15 @ £10p/h = £10.25

Grilledaubergines · 09/03/2017 12:55

Are you sure the actual amount he's getting is wrong, and it's not just a case of how it appears on his payslip I.e 1.15 is 1 hour 15 minutes and 2.30 is 2 and a half hours. Rather than .15 representing 15/100.

It think it's more like that '1' represents 60 minutes and so '.15' is a quarter of an hour etc.

Joey7t8 · 09/03/2017 13:43

I had someone query it once and had to show them that the sum did add up. I.e. 1.15 @ £10p/h = £10.25

You sure about that, Mouse?

To the OP: as others have suggested, check the calculation. It's probably just the way the pay slip is presented.

Having said that, I've known plenty of people that struggle with maths and the concept of converting minutes into fractions of hours when it comes to payroll!!

5foot5 · 09/03/2017 13:52

Have you got an actual money example so we can check the calculation

CasperGutman · 09/03/2017 14:04

the sum did add up. I.e. 1.15 @ £10p/h = £10.25

I take your point, but I think you mean £12.50!

PurpleMinionMummy · 09/03/2017 14:12

It's just how they show it.

Mouse510 · 09/03/2017 14:56

Yup, sorry pregnancy brain! Good thing I'm on mat leave now and not running the payroll right now

Flip