To be worried to bring this to manager's attention?

[emmalouise83]

Last year I requested a reduction in my hours from full time (37.5 hrs) to 32 hrs. I did this through formal channels with my manager and have the paperwork to back up my request. I have never looked at my payslips (all electronic, don't get them through the post), and just took for granted that this had been correctly processed as requested, and therefore assumed that the new amount I was being paid reflected the number of hours I'd asked for.

I have looked at my payslip for the first time properly today and noticed it says 33 hours at the top. I've looked back and they are all the same, since I requested the reduction. This means for the best part of a year I have been paid for 1 hour more per week than I've worked.

I am now really worried that if I raise this with my manager I will owe back a lot of money. 😩 Can to be made to pay it back if I raise it, do you think? This obviously wasn't my error as I was very clear in my flexible working request that I wanted to reduce to 32 hours. But could they argue that I should have checked my pay slips before now? What should I do?!

Do you get on OK with your manager?
Could you ask them if they've been entering 32 or 33 as you've been paid for 33 and you're worried about having to pay it back.
Maybe they'll just start entering 32 from now on if you point out the error.

You seem very hung up on it being “their error” and “unfair”, but you’re also in this situation because you didn’t check your payslips, and that is absolutely your responsibility to do so.

So instead of fully blaming them, take some responsibility for not appropriately managing your finances and make sure you do so in future.

You need to stop fixating on this not being your mistake….it’s irrelevant who made the mistake. The fact is you have been paid out of public money for work you haven’t done and you aren’t legally entitled to keep that money. As others have said, best thing to do is flag it with them asap and offer a repayment plan over the next year. If you continue being overpaid put the extra money aside so it’s ready to be paid back.

NHS here also overpaid, a similar situation to yourself, made to pay back.

Yes I get on well with him so I'm hoping this will happen 🤞🏻

Ask them to change it to 32 but you offer to work for 33 a week for the next 52 weeks to pay it back unless it will really screw with pickups etc. Also ensure annual leave is factored in, there will be some weeks you were off where you have no need to change it.

Maybe you could keep it to yourself and pretend you haven't noticed, but put the weekly overpayment to one side going forward in case you get asked for it back. If they question it, it was their fault so should be lenient!

Even if she did that OP would still need to find the money for the last year’s worth of overpayment.

Stop panicking. You aren't thinking straight.
It's only 1 hour a week.

Could you resolve it by working 1 extra hour a week for a year? E.g. 2 or 3 short lunch breaks a week?

But you must say something as soon as possible, or the debt will just get bigger.

And im pretty sure they will want it back, even if its not your fault.

I wouldn't say anything and if/when it's flagged up say you don't check your payslips because you don't, tbh neither do I except for the bonus period

You're worrying over something relatively minor, it's not as though they've randomly paid you £100k and haven't mentioned it!

You can say whatever you want if you leave it till it’s flagged up.

You’d still have to pay it back because it’s not lawfully your money.