Paid full salary instead of maternity pay, should I keep quiet or own up?

[whatwouldudo]

Very tempted to keep quiet as I work for a large organisation so I am assuming that the chances of it being noted are slim. However the thought of paying it back at a later date makes me want to reach for the phone and 'fess up to the personnel dept. I would love to keep the money, but the angel on my shoulder is telling me to be good.....

This happened to me but unlike you I didn't realise at the time. The maternity pay was so complicated that I just thought I had underestimated my calculations and then thought no more. When I went back to work after 6 months I was told they had mistakenly over paid me. I had to pay it back in installments which at least wasn't as painful as in a lump sum. I think it was about £1K

I'm sad to be the bringer of sad news but if you have noticed and don't tell them this is classed as theft. You should tell them. They may not notice if you keep quiet but it's not worth the potential problems.

Is this the 90% bit ? If so it could be full salary if the period used for calculations included a one off bonus or payment.

Yup, take it out and put in a separate account. Write or email to say you have received it in error and make sure you get a receipt and written acknowledgement when you have paid it back. Be shinier than shiny bright.

Email and let them know and ask if they can recall the extra or if you should do a cheque.

If you dont tell them and they find out, you could be in trouble as it appears to be an obvious overpayment and not a few pounds and they can recall it at any time which may leave you with problems in the future.

When I left my job at the local council a few years ago i received two months pay after i'd left. The first month i put it down to a back dated pay rise which i was expecting anyway but when it happened the following month I knew it was a mistake so contacted personnel who had no idea i had left (line manager hadn't told them ).

They said they would contact me to arrange for it to be paid back (which i was happy to do).....they never did and i didn't bother contacted them again.

Are you owed any holiday? Possible the first month is full pay because you are technically on hols, not maternity leave?

I got a tax rebate when I was on maternity leave so one month was more than I had thought.

I would email and let them know and ask them to confirm how much you shoudl be receiving each month.

at some point until or on the last day of their financial year they will figure it out and you will have to pay it back. just do it now

I got full pay when I should have got SMP only. I told my employer immediately and had to pay it back.

thought you helpful ladies might want to know, that I contacted the Pers. Dept and asked them to explain my latest salary as it what not what I was expecting. Apparently I'vve been given a fair bit of back-dated pay which was owing to me , but have to pay a little money back as there has been some confusion over my maternity pay. Actually am glad it is sorted now as I am intending to return to work PT instead of FT and am sure it would have been flagged up then.