Work forgot to pay me....again

[fredandginger]

I've been working for a small company (30-50 employees) for 4-5 years and roughly once a year the accounts dept 'forget' to put my pay through (I don't know why they still do it manually and not as a standing order)

This only seems to happen to me, nobody else in the company. Perhaps as I am the only person who works from home, and they do actually forget I exist?!

On previous occasions I have explained how annoyed I am and just waited a few more days for payment, relying on DH's salary to cover the early Direct debits from our account

But technically, DH isn't due to be paid until 4th of the month (although in reality, he gets paid a few days early each month, making our payday usually the same date)

So.... in theory, if my office 'forgets' to pay me my salary, we could have no funds available for the house and nursery bills, despite both working full time.

This time I'm really annoyed and I don't just want to say "Oh it's OK, don't worry, you're really busy I understand".

What can I say or do to make them sit up and take notice?? This isn't ok. What if I was a single mum, and needed this money and this money only for food and heating!?

I work for a very small employer - only 3 part time employees and my boss does this too, although I know she "forgets" the others too.

I'm fed up with watching my bank account like a hawk and having to transfer funds because of her "forgetfullness", her husband is by far the breadwinner in their house and I know it's no skin off her nose if she doesn't take a penny herself out of her business. What she forgets is that two out of three of her employees really need that money.

As you are in a larger organisation, do you think you could write them a letter of complaint?

Put it in writing as a grievance letter to your boss?

Tell them you cannot afford to be paid late as you have direct debits going out.

No excuse in my opinion.

When I was young and single and my employer did this to me I used to phone in sick until the money hit my account...

Thanks all! The money went in at 5pm today so I'm not sure what happened but maybe someone actually marched down to the bank and paid cash into my account?! Usually it appears a few days before, so something was definitely wrong this month but they pulled it out of the bag in the end.

This happened with my SMP this month, I was furious as I had direct debits coming out all over the place and we are already struggling.

And the money still didn't appear on the day it was promised. They finally made a cash transfer at my request - despite it being against company policy!!! - when I said (a bit tongue in cheek but I have got the front to do it) I was going to bring both of my DCs to the office to play until I got paid because I couldn't afford to take them to any activities.

t has happened before as well so I was tempted to put in a grievance about the payroll department but I have decided against it as I can't be bothered with the hassle.

If you do raise a grievance (giving notice that you expect interest for future late payments), point out the waste of time involved:

• manually processing payments every month
• accounts being chased for payment
• the potential liability involved in having something so important dependent on there being no sick leave, no disaffection in accounts, etc...

There is a reason employees are preferential creditors in any insolvency: it is the most important debt a company must pay!