Overpaid Maternity Leave

[mollyminniemo]

Hello
Half way into my maternity leave I realised I was still receiving enhanced maternity pay and alerted my company.
Initially it was tricky to work out as I took some annual leave before going off, some was added onto my leave and the payment schedule was so complicated. I also pay into a Share scheme/Childcare vouchers etc so my salary can vary month on month.
Anyway I was the one who alerted HR. They apologised, promised they'd calculate things, keep me closely updated but I heard no more. This was a year ago. My amounts then went drastically down so I assumed given their lack of contact my subsequent amounts had been adjusted.

I'm now back at work. Nearly 1 year since the last email regarding this- HR contact me out of the blue announce I was overpaid and asking for £2k of money back.
I alerted them about this and asked them to sort it out a year ago. They promised they would and that they'd keep me updated. They didn't.
To now hear in the current climate with energy crisis etc they just assume I have a lump sum to pay them back for their error and appalling handling of this case is causing me intense frustration and stress.
If anyone has any thoughts or advice on this I'd be grateful, thanks. Just an FYI they also did exactly the same to another colleague recently on their maternity leave.

Offer a payment plan of what you can afford. Also ask to check their calculations. Shit of them and how they have handled it but you owe the money at the end of the day

You knew you were being overpaid, so why didn't you keep the extra money back, you knew you woulf have to pay it back.

My amounts then went drastically down so I assumed given their lack of contact my subsequent amounts had been adjusted.

Unfortunately, on the assumption that they are correct and you've checked the calculations, instalments are probably your best outcome. You can try to mitigate by arguing that it was their fault, but legally they don't have to care about that - they are still entitled to the money back. And they can pursue this debt for years...

I'm sure you aren't planning on this ( really! ) but just a heads up... if you leave they are entitled to take every penny of your final salary against any debt you owe and still pursue any remaining debt through the courts. If they want to chase you for money you owe, then they have all the cards.

It sucks but you owe it to them - suggest a payment plan and pay in instalments.

Is it definitely correct? It should be easy enough to work out how much money you would have been paid based on company policy and whether it was SMP for example...I'd ask to go through it all and as others have suggested perhaps try and negotiate a bit off and offer a repayment plan. Agree its bad timing. I'd also want to know how this came to light a year later but thats just me perhaps....

Is the 2k net or gross?

Start by asking for a copy of how they have calculated the overpayment and check it.

If you agree you owe the money offer a repayment schedule.

Make sure adjustments for tax NI etc. are included in the calculation.

If it has been overpaid then you do need to repay it.