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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I accepted a payrise but I haven't been paid it.

47 replies

CargoShortsAndSlippers · 27/04/2021 07:51

I work for a small company, and recently the Director offered me a payrise with an increase in hours, backdated for this month onwards. I accepted it, and have been ignored ever since. Director has been ill, so I attributed radio silence to that, but it appears I've actually just been ignored.

I've increased my child's hours at nursery, and have been working the extra hours (remote, wfh, even before covid), now without pay, apparently.

I have been offered a new role elsewhere and will soon tender my resignation - is it worth the bother of addressing this issue, or should I just walk away? I will need a good reference....

OP posts:
PinkCookie11 · 27/04/2021 07:53

Did you sign contract for new hours/pay?

Hellocatshome · 27/04/2021 07:53

Do you have anything in writing about the payrise? Surely just contact whoever is in charge of HR or payroll? Sounds like it was agreed, Director goes off ill so it never got communicated to someone to put it through the payroll.

MotherOfGodWeeFella · 27/04/2021 07:54

Yes, definitely address it. Do you have anything in writing about the increased hours? You haven't actually been given a payrise though have you? You're being paid more for working more hours and that would be how I would phrase it, that you've increased your hours as requested, but have been paid for your old hours.

rainyskylight · 27/04/2021 08:06

This just sounds like a small company problem. I would just email whoever does payroll and cc in the director (or whoever’s covering him) and politely flag that you’ve been paid less than agreed. It really sounds like a communication problem and the director forgot to tell payroll because he went off sick suddenly. Congrats on your raise Smile.

FlyingBurrito · 27/04/2021 08:09

@rainyskylight

This just sounds like a small company problem. I would just email whoever does payroll and cc in the director (or whoever’s covering him) and politely flag that you’ve been paid less than agreed. It really sounds like a communication problem and the director forgot to tell payroll because he went off sick suddenly. Congrats on your raise Smile.
This sound exactly what I would have assumed has happened

Cock up is always more likely than conspiracy. A polite email is the way to go unless there are details you haven't included

FizzyApricot · 27/04/2021 08:11

I'd just ask whoever does the HR about it. Did you sign anything?

NorthernMC · 27/04/2021 08:14

Was your contract amended?

Original poster
CargoShortsAndSlippers · 27/04/2021 08:18

There is no HR or payroll, it's literally just the Director who does it all.

I assumed that once I'd accepted it, the backdating would be actioned. Silly me.

I have emailed about it, so we'll see. I don't really enjoy working for such a small company, to be honest, and am looking forward to change of scenery.

OP posts:
rawlikesushi · 27/04/2021 08:24

You sound really cross about something that was probably a simple oversight.

I'd have just asked on the day I got my pay slip.

Original poster
CargoShortsAndSlippers · 27/04/2021 08:26

I don't get payslips, at least not consistently. I'm addressing it now, on payday.

I believe I'm allowed to be cross about a simple oversight that has impacted me financially.

OP posts:
PinkCookie11 · 27/04/2021 08:34

100% you don’t work extra hours for free!!

rainyskylight · 27/04/2021 08:38

Yes but people make mistakes and running a small business means a lot of juggling. Stuff happens. It's not impacting you financially yet - payroll must have been yesterday? It should take 30mins for the bookkeeper to re-do your slip and transfer over the difference. Just sort it out rather than getting humphy and your knickers in a twist.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 27/04/2021 08:38

@rawlikesushi

You sound really cross about something that was probably a simple oversight.

I'd have just asked on the day I got my pay slip.

I think most people would be pissed off to find they hadn't been paid properly!

Do you have anything in writing confirming a change of hours or pay? Whenever I've had a promotion I've had to sign a new contract with the new rate of pay etc. on there.

If you don't have anything in writing then I'm not sure you have any comeback?

MotherOfGodWeeFella · 27/04/2021 08:50

Not paying employees correctly is one of the worst things an employer can do. It does impact people immediately because you feel taken advantage of or worry you can't meet your financial obligations. Happened to me with a past employer and it was very stressful finding my wages weren't in the bank when they should be.

Original poster
CargoShortsAndSlippers · 27/04/2021 09:06

@rainyskylight

Yes but people make mistakes and running a small business means a lot of juggling. Stuff happens. It's not impacting you financially yet - payroll must have been yesterday? It should take 30mins for the bookkeeper to re-do your slip and transfer over the difference. Just sort it out rather than getting humphy and your knickers in a twist.
You're being incredibly rude and dismissive. You don't happen to be the Director of a small company, do you?

There's no bookkeeper. The Director does all payroll stuff.

I was offered the payrise in an email, stating it would be backdated for the month of April. More fool me for accepting the offer and trusting that it would be actioned, I guess.

OP posts:
themalamander · 27/04/2021 09:11

@rainyskylight

If you cant do the juggling then you shouldnt be running a business. Paying the employees correctly and on time really is at the top of the pile. It is completely unacceptable not to do it.

It erodes the trust you have with them, it makes them feel undervalued, it means they need to take time out of their day to contact you about it. It cant also screen up anything they've got in the pipeline. Loan applications, mortgage applications, it could mess up any universal credit if the employer takes too long to make the additional payment so they end up paid twice/more than usual in the same period and universal credit dock them. Someone may be in a very tight financial situation and have promised to repay a loan with the extra pay rise money and then they cant because they havent been paid properly.

You simply cannot underpay your employees or pay them late. It doesnt matter how many balls you are juggling. This is totally unacceptable.

Small business owner here, and the OP isnt at all out of like in feeling annoyed by this.

themalamander · 27/04/2021 09:12

*it can also screw up

Pedalpushers · 27/04/2021 09:14

So who paid you this month? Just speak to them? You seem to think they're out to get you when it's a mistake, yes it's annoying and wrong but it happens all the time and should be easy to fix?

CareBear50 · 27/04/2021 09:16

Two posters on here are incredibly rude!!!!

Of course the OP has a right to be annoyed as she's been impacted doubly financially as she has not been paid what she's due and she's forked out more money for childcare

Original poster
CargoShortsAndSlippers · 27/04/2021 09:17

I don't understand these accusations being flung at me? I don't think anyone is out to get me! Where did you get that impression?

OP posts:
themalamander · 27/04/2021 09:19

Perhaps I'm reading too much between the lines but the OP has said she doesnt get payslips, which are a legal requirement, and she does not enjoy working in this small business and now she has been underpaid. It sounds as though this employer isnt great and approaching him about this could leave the OP in an unsafe work situation. Poor treatment or revenge performance complaints etc.

Some small businesses owners are total cowboys, which could be why the OP felt unsure about asking for her correct wages. It isnt always a matter of, "just go and tell them. It's simple."

madamecake · 27/04/2021 09:22

Another small business owner here...the OP is well within her rights to be angry.

She’s out of pocket from extra childcare, as well as working the extra hours. Who’s to say she doesn’t have bills which can’t be paid because of this.

Push for what you are owed OP. If the director was ill he or she should have got someone in to help with payroll. Paying staff correctly and on time is what of the most important parts of running a business.

rainyskylight · 27/04/2021 09:22

Yes it is annoying, yes it is disrespectful. But just email and flag it, then he can apologise and get it sorted. You clearly don't want to stay at the company, fine. But jeez it could have been sorted by now rather than starting a whole internet thread about it. The advantages of a small company is that there's no bureaucracy to go through.

It's quite clear that you're fed up with the company and just want to leave, so are taking this really badly. If you were feeling more positive about the company you'd just have got it sorted and moved on. People make mistakes - it's shit but it happens.

If payday is today you haven't actually been paid late yet. It's 20minutes into the working day.

rainyskylight · 27/04/2021 09:24

Not getting payslips though is totally out of order, agree!!!! And yeah ok he might just be a total cowboy, but it's sortable! good luck.

themalamander · 27/04/2021 09:25

@rainyskylight

The disadvantage of a working for a small business is that there often isnt anyone informing management of they legal requirements or making sure they do what they're meant to. Directors break rules all the time.