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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my boss should help as he paid me late?

38 replies

Amsiiiii · 10/03/2022 14:56

I'm a single mum with two kids, I work full time with no help from their dad. I get UC childcare only. I get paid usually a day before my assessment period ends so I pay my nursery fees that day to ensure I get it back that month rather than the month after.

Our payday fell on the weekend and my boss assured me he would pay everyone on the Friday. This never happened, Saturday was my last day for being able to pay nursery and get it back. We get on well so I told him how important it was to get paid that day to make sure I pay nursery. He told me he would do it, he then paid me a day later so I have now missed the cut off point and I wont get this money back until April. I cannot afford to be without this money, I rely on this to survive the month. I want to ask if he could lend me the money until I have this reimbursed, is this unreasonable?

OP posts:
Summerofcontent · 10/03/2022 14:57

The worst that could happen is he says no

I'd ask if you get on well enough

Lsquiggles · 10/03/2022 14:58

Yabu unfortunately, that would be very unprofessional

Original poster
Amsiiiii · 10/03/2022 14:59

I don't know what to do really, because he's paid me late I now have no money for the month. I can't pay bills or do a food shop

OP posts:
cecilthehungryspider · 10/03/2022 15:00

@Lsquiggles

Yabu unfortunately, that would be very unprofessional
To be fair, not being paid on time isn't very professional either!
moonbedazzled · 10/03/2022 15:01

I think you have legal rights over this but I guess you don't want to go down this route. I'd expect him to definitely cover a shortfall that he's caused. So don't approach it as him doing you a favour but rather as a consequence of his actions. Polite but matter of fact.

cecilthehungryspider · 10/03/2022 15:02

It depends very much on your relationship with your boss tbh. You will be a better judge of that than people on MN. On the face of it though I don't see any harm in asking for an advance on your next pay to make up the shortfall you currently have. Presumably when your money comes through it will all even out again.

Stars1979 · 10/03/2022 15:02

Yes ask. I would. Paying a day late has caused you hardship. Its like an advance that you will pay back. They may say no, but do ask.

Pegasushaswings · 10/03/2022 15:02

I would ask, he should pay you on or before your pay date, I’m not sure if he’s broken a law regarding that actually. But ask and say why, he needs to know his actions have consequences

londonmummy1966 · 10/03/2022 15:02

I don't think it is right to ask him to lend it to you personally but I think that it is appropriate to approach your employer and ask them to consider giving you a loan in these circumstances.

MissBattleaxe · 10/03/2022 15:02

Very unprofessional not to pay staff on time and he needs to know how important it is to do so. Ask him. He can say no but if he's a decent man he'll at least think twice before paying people late next time.

5zeds · 10/03/2022 15:03

You don’t ask for him to lend it to you, but definitely as for an “advance on your wages” as they created the cash flow problem.

Original poster
Amsiiiii · 10/03/2022 15:04

I've asked. I have trouble asserting myself in situations like this but through no fault of my own i'm left with a month of no money.

OP posts:
sunnyliveshere · 10/03/2022 15:04

I work for a multinational so appreciate this may be different but we had an issue with our payroll provider and we weren’t paid on time. The company offered advances to anyone who needed them.
It’s unacceptable not to pay people on time and this is your boss’s problem, not yours. You should definitely ask. Good luck

Merryoldgoat · 10/03/2022 15:04

@Lsquiggles

Yabu unfortunately, that would be very unprofessional
There is nothing unprofessional about her request. Being paid late is extremely unprofessional however.

I run payroll where I work and I’d advance you that money without hesitation.

I’d also be extremely apologetic at the inconvenience I caused you and I’d expect to be reprimanded severely by my manager.

ChateauMargaux · 10/03/2022 15:05

I disagree with squiggles.. tell him exactly how his actions have impacted you and what it means for you and your children. Also, do not let it go through payroll as this could affect your UC claims. I hope he is reasonable and is able to help.

DdraigGoch · 10/03/2022 15:05

I'd definitely ask for an advance.

AlexaShutUp · 10/03/2022 15:05

What does your contract say about payday falling on non-working days? If it states that you will be paid the last working day before that date, then he has breached that.

I think it would do no harm to ask. As an employer, I would feel terrible about putting someone in that situation and I would do anything I could to help.

Original poster
Amsiiiii · 10/03/2022 15:07

Its actually both their birthdays at the end of this month. This could not have happened at a worse time. This is making me question whether I want to stay here as I can't have this happen again

OP posts:
Duchess379 · 10/03/2022 15:09

I'd tell him, so he knows the hardship you're now in. My pay day falls on the 6th, if it's a weekend, I get paid on the Friday. Hope something is sorted out.

moonbedazzled · 10/03/2022 15:11

@Lsquiggles

Yabu unfortunately, that would be very unprofessional
Why is it unprofessional to expect him to cover a shortfall that he has caused? My company had a payroll glitch and it caused everyone to be paid two days late. Any employee who could prove that they had a financial loss or hardship because of the payment, were given financial assistance to make them whole. And payroll now is run three days before the pay date so it doesn't happen again. I think the ops employer is on a smaller scale but is still entitled not to be financially harmed because of her employers actions.
wtfisgoingonhere21 · 10/03/2022 15:17

@Amsiiiii

I have ran a business for over 20 years

On the odd occasion payroll have managed to cock up and pay late and I've gone batshit at them and advanced staff and covered any fees etc due to the companies cock up.

I am struggling myself to keep everything afloat and am no stranger to juggling and the importance of earnings being on time

Your boss was v unprofessional to forget or not prioritise that his staff that keep his business running need to be paid on time.

Op deep breath and call him now.

Tell him politely that due to his cock up etc you are now a month without £xxx as he missed the cut off point therefore could he please advance you what you need to meet your commitments.

He's bloody ignorant

Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and call him out on it. If you don't it could happen again

If he gets at all funny about it email him and set out the perfectly valid points you've made and that it's put you into hardship for a month.

Celoo · 10/03/2022 15:17

If you say you get on really well and he's generally a decent person I imagine he'd feel pretty bad knowing the position you ended up in. But I wouldn't jump into the idea of leaving because of this, you have no idea what pay terms another company might be like.

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 10/03/2022 15:40

I've worked for employers who would do this and it's part of the payroll policy to do advances when employees are in need.

I don't think it is unprofessional to ask at all. I think it is how you ask him rather than asking that would be unprofessional.

Aquamarine1029 · 10/03/2022 15:51

I owned a business for 15 years. Paying your employees late is completely unacceptable.

Foolsrule · 10/03/2022 15:55

Your boss was 100% in the wrong but it sounds as though you’re in a very precarious position. UC are a nightmare when it comes to admin like this, too,