To feel pissed off about this (salary)

[FlappicusSmith]

I accepted a job at a salary of X amount. Received and signed contract, which says £X salary for '36 hours p/w (full time)'.

I just got my first payslip and my gross monthly pay is less than I was expecting. i.e. it is less than 'X divided by 12'. Some ChatGPT'ing has revealed that apparently in this sector it's 'normal' to quote 'spine' salaries based on a 37hr week and that my paid salary reflects that my contract is for 36hrs.

At no point was this communicated to me. My contract says 'full time'. Nowhere does it say anything about that being pro-rata. Neither was it communicated during the offer/ negotiation/ acceptance stage.

Has anyone come across this before? In my many, many years of working I have never heard of this and I'm really miffed!

Nope. I’d ignore chatGPT and query it with HR or similar.

It would be an unauthorised deduction from your salary if you contract says one thing and you’re paid another.

A possible explanation I can think of is that you’re paid on a “days worked” basis, so rather than it being XX/12 and you’re paid the same each month, it’s XX/260 and then you’re paid for each day worked that month, and February is a short month so you’re paid “less”.

Ah, maybe that's it! I hope so @AnotherDelphinium. Although Googling, it does seem to be a thing in this sector (spine salaries are based on 37hr weeks and anything less than that is paid pro-rata)...

And yes, I have queried it with HR. I just wanted to see if anyone else had come across this before...

It doesn't matter whats "standard in the sector" if the contract is vague or misleading, challenge it. Im guessing it's local government or TA or higher ed and they do this to make the salaries look higher, very few roles are ever actually 37 hours.

Did you start at the beginning of the month? It might sound like daft question but if the first day of the working month is (say) 3rd or something, payroll will often pro rate the amount accordingly unless your start date is showing as 1st.

It’s more likely to be that Feb is a short month and assuming you started on the 2nd or afterwards that has made it slightly lower, being your first month. I expect next month you’ll see x/12.

Started on the first day of the month.

Having done the sums, my monthly gross was exactly 36/37 x offered salary, so I do think that's what's happened.

Wtaf!

Don’t annoy HR if you are in a probation period. Seems minimal impact really

You started on a Sunday?

You don't think I should annoy HR when my actual salary is materially less than I was led to believe it would be? While it's a low percentage difference, it's actually a not insignificant amount over the year...

I mean, they've fucking annoyed me. I think this is willfully non-transparent.

They surely have to pay you what it states in the contract.

You'd think so, right?

I've scoured my contract and there is nothing that indicates I'd be paid less than the quoted salary.

Yeah that’s a Sunday so if you started on that 2nd I’d have paid you 20/260 (maybe 262, I haven’t done payroll for a few years) of annual for that first month.

If it is the 36/37 hours thing can you offer to do a further hour a week to get the full load? Checking emails in the evening for 8 mins per day =56 mins extra per week

If HR comes back saying it’s a pro-rata amount, just refer them back to the wording in the contract that says X salary for 36hr per week and ask them to fix their mistakes asap.

Asking HR for some clarity on your salary is not being annoying as suggested above
🙄

So you started on 2 February and got paid when? Money coming on the 27th? You haven't worked a full month. Could that be the culprit and it will right itself in March?

Look at your offer letter, does it give your hours of work and then salary agreed (XX) but in brackets pro rata? Or is this in your contract? If not, check with your pay team and they need to pay you what is in the contract.

This spine thing looks dodgy to me, and if it doesn't say pro rata on your offer letter/contract, then they are under paying you. When you asked AI did you explain you were in the UK as I don't think you could get away with what they are suggesting here.

If it does say pro rata then you are scuppered.

However could it be something else that is amiss, have you handed your P45 in because if not, you maybe on emergency tax?

Or maybe they don't pay from 1st to last of month, may they pay from 29th to 28th so you have missed a day in the working month - just check with HR.

Use your payslip and check its right using something like The Salary Calculator - 2025 / 2026 Tax Calculator

That's unacceptable. I'd not accept it.

No mention of pro rata anywhere @PrettyPickle. My contract actually says: 'your spinal point will be A with a salary of £X per annum'. Elsewhere in the contract is says: 'Hours: 36 (Full Time)'.

Not on emergency tax. My tax code is correct on my payslip. And in any case, it's the gross monthly salary that's under what I was expecting. The deductions are all fine.
'

Is it an NHS role?

In my company your first recourse would be to query/raise with your line manager, who may then involve the HR or Finance Payroll Team as needed. I’m not sure of the process at your workplace but you absolutely should raise this. Ultimately, you’ve accepted a role on the basis of receiving a specified salary per annum in exchange for working a specific number of hours per week. If there is nothing in your contract or any relevant internal policies that would account for the difference, you have been underpaid and it needs to be corrected in your next payroll, ensuring that not only is the underpaid amount back paid, but that your future payroll amounts will be for the correct, full amount.

If it’s your first pay it could be a pay period point. Like you get paid on the last day of the month but the pay period runs to the 28th so month one is short.

in any case - I would very politely query with HR / manager. But don’t be rude or a pain. You contract will also have a probationary notice period.

so - you are right to clarify.
it’s not smart to be a pain about it. They’ll be able to end your contract for no reason.

win hearts and minds. Otherwise the whole “cut off nose to spite face” will come into play.

Then speak to your manager or payroll team, whichever is the appropriate route at your place as you deserve clarity. There maybe a simple reason but I can't think what.

It may not be a significant amount but you are entitled to it and over a few years it will make a difference.

Good luck!

Could it be because there is a cut off for payroll? Ours I think is 22nd of the month. So anything worked after that rolls into the next month even though we get paid on 25th.