To ask about my wages?

[Electrascoffee]

I have just started a new job. Last month which was the first month I got paid, we were paid early. This is unusual.

The other employees I work with advised me to tell our boss if I need to be paid by the 1st because sometimes she is late paying it. Since I'm new I don't know what is usual and this is a small business!

I do need to be paid by the 1st because my rent is due on the 1st so I asked her (politely) if I could be paid by the end of tomorrow please as I have to pay my rent. She rather crossly replied that I really don't need to remind her to pay me.

So was I unreasonable to ask? Of course I know that she wouldn't just not pay us but I can't afford to be late with my rent because otherwise I will have a record of paying my rent late.

Was I unreasonable?

I am on the autistic spectrum so I'm happy to be told that this was a social faux pas. But as I say, I only acted on the advice of the other employees.

Well no, other employees told you to so she must have form for it. You weren't criticising her, just making sure!

yabu

you asked the wrong question

"can you tell me when pay day is each month?" is the question you should have asked

Yes, she sounded upset / defensive but there are only about 5 people who work there. So it's not like working for day, the NHS.

what does your contract say about when payment will be?
ours say last working day of the month (and at xmas we get paid early). But it would be a breach of contract to be paid LATER than it says in the contract. Most people would suffer from this (as you generally get paid end of month and set up bills to come out 1st of the month)

YANBU to ask

But YABU to brood over someone being a bit short tempered and snappy. We all get like that sometimes. It doesn't make it right but we all do.

I wouldn't give it another thought now.

I've just checked my contract and it says paid 'on or about the last working day of each month or the first day of the following month'

So I don't think that sounds clear. Worra I do worry about such things because I find other people difficult to navigate. Obviously I try not to upset the people I work with!

Obviously I won't mention it to her again! I wasn't trying to be rude.

well its clear you will be paid on or before 1st of the month (and if the 1st is a Sat or Sunday or bank holiday, it would be in the month before)

So in theory, you need to move all payments out until 2nd (maybe 3rd to be safe)

seems an odd way to do things but least its per the contract.

I had a boss like this year's ago. It drove me so mad I ended up leaving. I could never guarantee I would be paid on the 1st of the month. I had bills etc... to pay and I got so stressed. She also acted like she was doing us all a huge favour by paying us. Sigh.

I can't move things to the 3rd - my rental contract says I need to pay it on the 1st. Before I had this job we got housing benefit & now I don't,