Any civil service payroll people who can explain this please?

[Yesthatscorrect]

I am on a CS part time, part year contract. I asked to change to compressed hours. So I do the same number of hours, same number of part year weeks but over fewer days. I didn't realise that this would cause an issue with my pay to do this change mid year (my part year is usually reviewed in March and the change happened in August.)

They said that I have effectively ended my part year agreement so I have to pay back this money over three payments. They gave me no notice of this. I just checked my online banking and saw I had been paid 150 quid less than usual.

I raised a query about this and had a call from someone who said I would not get this money back. And because I hadn't queried it before the first payment they would be taking the full amount in three instalments, just in time for Christmas. I said how could I query it when I wasn't notified and she couldn't answer this one.

So my part time salary is still a set amount per year but I won't actually be paid that amount this year.

It seems that they have now found a load more unconnected overpayments in my salary going back to 2017 and have sent me a schedule which basically shows a random amount with basic pay arrears next to it. They will now be taking this money back too. No explanation of how this occurred.

My union rep said payroll won't speak to them due to confidentiality.

Something similar happened to a man at work and he fought it but I don't know what to say to them. I don't understand their explanation when I speak to them.

There are 2 issues the overpayment from 2017 and the change of hours.

Overpayment from 2017:

• write and request full details of the overpayment including pay calculations and your gross and net leave entitlement for each year. Ask what year they will use e.g. 1April to 31 March, date you moved to TTW, Pay Award settlement date etc. If they don’t specify use 1 April to 31 March.

• use a spreadsheet to work out for each year using their definition:

a) what you have been paid each month - gross, net, tax, no deductions, SSP etc. b) actual hours worked including BH and annual leave c) calculate gross salary based on actual hours worked and divide by 1931.4 or 1879.2 depending if full time is 37 or 36 hours. d) compare c) with a) to see if you have been under or over paid e) compare with figures from employer. Then you can contest their figures. NOTE: don’t forget to show pay awards, changes of hours etc. Particularly when calculating annual leave entitlement which can also span a year.

Change to compressed hours:
I assume you were working 5 x 4 hour days for 33 weeks I.e 660 hours annually and moved to 4 x 5 hour days for 33 weeks I.e 660 hours. Your pay should stay the same but if they were paying you incorrectly from 2017 then this may be why you have been overpaid.
Again ask HR for the calculations including annual leave and the period they are using.
Work out annual hours including BH and annual leave for the period and then pro rate full time salary to calculate annual salary.
HTH

Thank you that's helpful.

Hi,

Just out of interest was your job advertised as part year or is this something you asked for? How many months a year do you work?

I've just started working for the CS on a full-time contract but would love to request term-time or part-year working once I pass my probation.

@Asvan

Hi,

Just out of interest was your job advertised as part year or is this something you asked for? How many months a year do you work?

I've just started working for the CS on a full-time contract but would love to request term-time or part-year working once I pass my probation.

You should really start your own thread.

In your case you should use the right to request flexible working process to apply for term time/part year. All departments have a version of this along with details of what flexible working options there are on their Intranet.

You might want to talk to HR and ask what options they typically offer. This helps you to frame your request. You also need to consider the implications for your colleagues/team as part of the application.