New job - getting paid

[daimbarsatemydogsbone]

I started a new job on 8th March. It's a monthly paid job, paid on or around 21st.
I didn't get paid on 21st, so asked why.
Apparently the cutoff for payroll is 7th, so I was never going to be paid - not that anyone thought to tell me.
What makes this worse is that they plan to pay the whole amount in April - 45 days after I start, and they will treat it as if it was all earned in April which will mean I will overpay NI.
I know this is all very first world - but I really don't see why I should lose out due to their ludicrous cutoff and refusal to process my pay in the period when it was earned, in accordance with the law.

It’s completely normal unfortunately.
You started a day after the payroll cut off so you get paid in the following months’ payroll.

This has been the case in every job I have worked in unfortunately.
Payroll staff have to have a cutoff date for processing, they can’t do it all in one day.

Normal I'm afraid. The NI should balance out though, shouldn't it? I've had this before and had a refund on my NI a month or two later.

(Appreciate that's not helpful in the moment, though)

Yes, normal, and the same timescale as in my workplace. Bit off
for them not to have made you aware though.

@housemaus

Normal I'm afraid. The NI should balance out though, shouldn't it? I've had this before and had a refund on my NI a month or two later.

(Appreciate that's not helpful in the moment, though)

No NI is not cumulative unlike tax, that's my point.

I appreciate that it's normal in other badly run organisations - but it shouldn't make new starters suffer financially. There is no good reason for me to have to wait, or pay the wrong (excessive) NI just due to poor admin, is there?

@Fairyliz

This has been the case in every job I have worked in unfortunately. Payroll staff have to have a cutoff date for processing, they can’t do it all in one day.

If they can't process a new starter in 14 days then surely they need more staff - that's ridiculous.

That's shit. Closing off payroll, especially for new staff 2 full weeks before payday is ludicrous.

I would insist on an advance particually if they didn't tell you until now that you wouldn't get paid - people have bills to pay etc.

I agree it’s so unfair but it’s pretty normal. I’m still annoyed they did this to me on my first ever job at 16- it meant I paid tax on my first few weeks wage when I wouldn’t have hit the threshold if they’d have paid me in the march. I’m 31 now and still miffed!

It’s crap but it’s also normal in a lot of companies, not just poorly run ones. There has to be a cut off somewhere.

A 2 weeks lead on payroll AND refusing to make exceptions for new staff is not normal.

Can they at least give you and advance? I started new job on 7th which was the cut off also. I got paid on the 25th. They also offer advances if you had missed cut off.

It's perfectly normal. But they should have advised you that you wouldn't get paid. It's not about processing one new starter, there are a gazillion things that go through payroll, and you also need to have the payroll run for checking for any errors before it goes live.

There are frequent glitches when you start a new job. Sometimes you've just got to suck it up.

When I started in a local government job on Monday, 3 October, despite working every possible working day in October, I got paid two days less, because the monthly payment was made based on the fact that I wasn't on their books on 1 and 2 October.

When I left, I was sure to make a Sunday my last "working day". A new colleague sustained a sports injury over the weekend before he started his new job. As he'd left his previous job on the Friday, there was no-one to cover his sick pay for the period of sickness/delayed start to the new job. As you might imagine, he was only off sick for a very brief amount of time.

@WhatATimeToBeAlive

It's perfectly normal. But they should have advised you that you wouldn't get paid. It's not about processing one new starter, there are a gazillion things that go through payroll, and you also need to have the payroll run for checking for any errors before it goes live.

I'm fully aware payroll have a lot to do - but I will be overpaying NI that I can't get back as well as waiting 45 days to get paid. I don't see why I should have to - ironically if I worked for a small company I'd probably have been fine. To those saying "suck it up" - the fact sop many people just suck it up is why this sort of shit never changes - it is very poor, and it is badly run.

@Lollollol2020

Can they at least give you and advance? I started new job on 7th which was the cut off also. I got paid on the 25th. They also offer advances if you had missed cut off.

It's not so much about the wait (although that is bad) but the fact that I will overpay NI that I can't get back.

It's very very normal. I've never worked anywhere that didn't have a payroll cut-off.

You'll get your NI back.

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

It's very very normal. I've never worked anywhere that didn't have a payroll cut-off.

You'll get your NI back.

How do you think I will get the NI back exactly?

To all those saying having a cutoff is normal - I know and agree - but 7 days or so is much more usual in my experience, and some employers do a second run to mop up late starters too.

There has to be a cut off somewhere. Yes it is early but that's what it is. You can't do anything to change it and tbh if your new employer gets a hint that you think they're 'badly run' and 'ridiculous' you might not be there long. Try and forget about it and take it as one of those things.

The company didn't tell the OP that their slow as shit payroll process can't cope with a new employee starting 2 full weeks before payday. This isn't normal, I've never dealt with a company that does not have a way to deal with new staff joining other than "tough shit, you have to wait".

At the least they should have a way of making emergency payments to ensure staff are not out of pocket due to payroll mistakes in the normal run of things.

@CapMarvel

The company didn't tell the OP that their slow as shit payroll process can't cope with a new employee starting 2 full weeks before payday. This isn't normal, I've never dealt with a company that does not have a way to deal with new staff joining other than "tough shit, you have to wait".

At the least they should have a way of making emergency payments to ensure staff are not out of pocket due to payroll mistakes in the normal run of things.

They should've told her but even if they had the OP would still be in the same position. She doesn't seem that bothered about the delay in getting paid, just about payment of the NI.

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

It's very very normal. I've never worked anywhere that didn't have a payroll cut-off.

You'll get your NI back.

They won't! As the OP has already explained, NI is not cumulative so it won't be balanced in future pay.

Have you talked to HMRC @daimbarsatemydogsbone? I know they're busy but might be worth a call if you can sit on hold for a while.

" She doesn't seem that bothered about the delay in getting paid, just about payment of the NI."

Which in itself is fair enough. Why should the OP have the hassle of claiming it back?

The company WILL have a way of making payments outside of standard payroll. That's what they should do.

@mummyh2016

There has to be a cut off somewhere. Yes it is early but that's what it is. You can't do anything to change it and tbh if your new employer gets a hint that you think they're 'badly run' and 'ridiculous' you might not be there long. Try and forget about it and take it as one of those things.

You're right - lucky for me I have a pretty good chance of going elsewhere to a better run outfit. This cap doffing attitude is why nothing ever improves for employees.

Have you talked to HMRC @daimbarsatemydogsbone? I know they're busy but might be worth a call if you can sit on hold for a while.
Thanks - good shout - I will try this on a day when I have a little more patience.