Admin error received full salary on ml- do I need to pay back?

[princessx]

Just a quick one, and I'm guessing what the right answer is already.

I've been on mat leave for 2 months and I've received 2 full months pay as an admin error I suppose. I need to phone hr about another matter. Soi have to tell them. Do I think I will need to pay it back even though it was their mistake?

Please say no!

Erm, yes you do. They will only claim it back later if not and you won't look very good particularly if you want to work for them after mat leave.

Even if you don't tell them, they'll figure it out when they do their wages control or their Year End and you'll have to pay it back then. So I wouldn't spend it...

Even if they don't realise for a while, they will still be entitled to recover it at a later date, better to pay it back now before it gets spent.

I'm afraid that yes you should tell them. And, yes they will take it back.

Sorry

Have you checked your contract and are definitely meant to be on smp now? I got 8 weeks full pay and 4 weeks half at my company before receiving smp.

Double check because statutory maternity pay is 90% of earning for 6 weeks - could you have received that? And perhaps any holiday pay too? If their Company policy is to offer above this (most public sector bodies offer more) then it might be right.

Just give HR or Payroll a call to check. They will be in the right to claw it back if they've overpaid you. It is therefore very important to sort out sooner rather than later.

Yes, you do have to repay overpayments. But SMP is 90 per cent for six weeks and things like tax adjustment can result in you getting more than you expect, so it might not be as much of a difference as you think.

Call them. If you are lucky you will discover that the maternity leave policy has changed to "full pay for the first 3 months". If you are unlucky at least you know now and not later.

Thanks folks, it can't be smp as I don't get that as not been there long enough, so I've to get maternity allowance from gov (although admin error there as not received that.

Will call them on Monday

place it in a seperate account so you can't spend iyt, and at least let it earn you some interest til you have to give it back

holiday pay?

email them. And keep a copy. You can be sacked for knowingly keeping over payments without bringing it to your employers notice.

Thanks - just emailed them now, and can phone on mon to follow up

Hi princess

You have done the right thing. Keep what you can in a separate account so you can pay them back.

With being honest you also have more of a chance to negotiate a payment plan rather than one big hit when you return.

Oh and document every phone call and who you spoke to, times etc, just in case.

Have you got your contract of employment or staff handbook? Does it say what happens in the event of an overpayment situation?