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AIBU?

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Original poster

Work not paying us until tomorrow

75 replies

EllaVaNight · 03/05/2022 09:17

I'm supposed to be paid today. I called work as I haven't received it. They said because it was a bank holiday yesterday we won't be paid until tomorrow?

Does anyone know if they can do this? I could cry, I need nappies food and fuel to fetch my eldest from school. I also need to top up the gas and electric. I was already short because I was over taxed so I'm waiting for that too.

Does anyone have any knowledge in this area?

Thanks.

OP posts:
LittleOwl153 · 03/05/2022 09:20

What day does your contract say you are to be paid? If it is co tracked to be paid yesterday I.e. 1st of the month then they should have paid on Friday to be sure it was there on time. In which case paying late comes under unlawful deduction of earnings and I would go back to them on that basis.

However if you payday is say the 5th but they usually pay early then they have given themselves leeway to be 'late'. If you are really struggling you could ask for an advance.

PAFMO · 03/05/2022 09:21

It's more usual to be paid the last working day before a public holiday but it's not unknown for it to be the other way round.
Has it happened before like this? Presuming your payday is 2nd of the month? What happened in January?
Unfortunately, in answer to your question, they can do this. It would have been nice of them to let you know, but contractually and legally, they're probably in the clear unless you have something specified that before a certain day, or on a certain day, the money will be there.

Original poster
EllaVaNight · 03/05/2022 09:26

We get paid every 4th Tuesday so not a specific date. I can't see them paying an advance, they underpaid half my wages a couple of months ago and I had to wait a week for the rest.

Thanks for the replies.

OP posts:
Original poster
EllaVaNight · 03/05/2022 09:28

Also, I wasn't there in January.

OP posts:
Shoebie · 03/05/2022 09:30

They sound crap, even if your pay day fell on a bank holiday itself you should be paid early rather than late. Is it a big company or a small business?

SD1978 · 03/05/2022 09:32

I have the same, if it's a payroll week and the mo day is a public holiday, then the wages can't be processed that day- it's the following day. I don't really see how you could argue it and isnstead would look at the bank holidays going forward to keep money for the same happening again.

Motnight · 03/05/2022 09:33

That sounds rubbish. To me it would be an indication that this isn't a good organisation to work for.

Original poster
EllaVaNight · 03/05/2022 09:33

It's quite a big care company @Shoebie

OP posts:
TabithaTittlemouse · 03/05/2022 09:35

If you haven’t been there for long can you ask others if this is the norm for bank holidays?

Original poster
EllaVaNight · 03/05/2022 09:35

@SD1978 It's more the fact I wasn't told and can't see it mentioned in the contract. Plus money only goes so far at the moment. Its really hard to make it stretch any further.

OP posts:
Original poster
EllaVaNight · 03/05/2022 09:36

@TabithaTittlemouse yes they said it is normal and they weren't told either.

OP posts:
woodenwindchimes · 03/05/2022 09:38

That sucks! You do one of the most important jobs in the world, are underpaid, and they just think it's fine to delay your pay even further. Crap!

But calm down, and just realise it's one day. You will see that money tonight I would expect.

Can you manage today? Once you've sat down, had a cuppa, and taken stock of what you've got, can you get through one more day?

Original poster
EllaVaNight · 03/05/2022 09:43

@woodenwindchimes thank you. Food wise we'll be ok. We'll have to skip baths and showers as there's no gas for hot water. I've 2 nappies left and I'm worried about the car not making it back from fetching DS from school. There's no one else to fetch him. Usually DP and I would be ok between us but he's on ssp with a long term illness.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 03/05/2022 09:43

What does your contract say? Our weekly workers are paid on a Friday, their contract says wages have to reach their accounts by close of business on Friday. On Good Friday we would have to pay them on the Thursday as not to do so we would be in breach of their contracts. However if something goes wrong with the banking and the money hasn't shown up first thing Thursday morning some of them are on the phone even though they are not yet late.

Late payment of wages is "unlawful deduction". It might be worth contacting ACAS for advice.

Original poster
EllaVaNight · 03/05/2022 09:45

I'm also cross because I was meant to get my painkillers prescription for painkillers today (endometriosis) which I now can't get til Monday as I'm at work for the next 4 days doing 12hr shifts and DP is too ill to be going anywhere.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 03/05/2022 09:48

They should never pay late and if a BH gets in the way, they should pay early instead.

Could you arrange a small overdraft (eg £100) with your bank so you can buy the things you need? Just pretend it isn't there most of the time, and just need it in times like this, when your work has let you down.

SOrry you've been struggling at the moment. If you're a low earner and your DP is on SSP, have you rechecked your UC entitlement? You might be entitled to more than when he was working.

StatisticallyChallenged · 03/05/2022 09:50

Everywhere I've worked has always paid early for a bank hol, not late. We run a small business and do the same. No way we'd pay them a day late because it was a bank holiday the day before

Original poster
EllaVaNight · 03/05/2022 09:52

@BarbaraofSeville I already have an overdraft but I'm at the limit already due to being overtaxed. We're waiting for UC payment and PIP assessment as DP has cancer. Thanks for your reply.

OP posts:
Original poster
EllaVaNight · 03/05/2022 09:57

@StatisticallyChallenged I've always been paid early for bank holidays too.

OP posts:
Princetopple · 03/05/2022 10:11

I don't know if it's legal but it's shit. I deal with the wages in a small company and I rush to get it through early if there's a bank holiday. There's no way we would pay people late.

SmellyNelliey · 03/05/2022 10:15

My partner is paid weekly every Tuesday but on bank Holidays payed Wednesday I've questioned this over and over with partner but he says there doing nothing wrong 🙃

Original poster
EllaVaNight · 03/05/2022 10:18

It is shit. Im just exhausted. Im sick and tired of working 44hrs a week with so little to show for it, working 12hr shifts not getting to see my children on those days, getting an hour's break taken off me when we don't have time to take it. And as selfish as it sounds, tired of seeing DP so ill and caring for everyone.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 03/05/2022 10:19

SmellyNelliey · 03/05/2022 10:15

My partner is paid weekly every Tuesday but on bank Holidays payed Wednesday I've questioned this over and over with partner but he says there doing nothing wrong 🙃

That depends on what his contract says. If his contract says he is paid Tuesdays then they are doing something wrong, if it says every Tuesday except bank holiday weeks then they are not. He should check.

CheeseBoard2022 · 03/05/2022 10:20

Ring your supplier for gas and electric. They can top it up their end, you will have to pay it back but please don't go without gas and electric when your DH is so poorly. Hope you get it sorted op.

BarbaraofSeville · 03/05/2022 10:22

If you know you're going to be paid late, and they offer an advance to anyone who needs some money on payday then it's less of an issue than to just check your bank on payday and find that the money hasn't gone in as expected.

Ideally they should pay early, but if not, staff should know this in advance and help should be available for those who will be adversely affected by their wages being a day late. And then if they find that more than a handful ask for an advance, that should be more than the prompt they need to pay in advance when payday could be delayed by a BH.