Not been paid for my increased hours. Where do I stand?

[OrmIrian]

About 5 weeks ago I went back to full-time work from part-time. I did this to accomodate a change in DH's job that meant he could do the school runs but be paid a lot less.

I discussed it informally with my boss, the HR director and the departmental director. All hunkydory. But apparently nothing formal was written down. My fault perhaps.

However I can't afford to get paid at my old rate this month. With DH's reduced income we'd be in moderately deep sh*t.

I've e-mailed the HR director to find out where I stand, my manager advised me to do this, but her out-of-office reply came up, and I've tried to call her several times but had to leave voice message.

Is it possible that they can refuse to pay me the increased amount? I suspect yes, but am hoping not

Of course they can't refuse to pay you the increased amount - if you have worked the hours, then you are entitled to be paid for them.

Are you saying you haven't been paid for them? It could be an admin error/someone forgetting to inform payroll etc - in which case, could they adjust it and do you an ad-hoc payment?

Have you got any reason to think they won't pay you?

I don't think it should be you having to chase HR, I think your manager is responsible for making sure HR have whatever paperwork they need to increase someone's pay and making sure it happens.

Not your fault, although you should request confirmation in writing of your new hours and salary.

Sorry, just seen that the title actually says you haven't been paid.

Still your manager's responsibility to find out why this happened and get an ad hoc payment done.

I didn't get paid for them last month but I assumed it was an oversight - they hadn't updated the system. But I've seen my payslip for this month and it's the old amount again.

So it seems according to the payroll system I've not been working 39 hrs, only 30.

It sounds like someone has just forgotten to inform payroll you have increased your hours.

As Flowery says, it really is your manager's responsibility to inform them, and if he/she hasn't done it, then they need to try and sort it out. IME, for audit purposes, most payrolls would need a manager's authorisation anyway to adjust your pay.

OK. Thanks

I will stop panicking and wait till I hear back from HR. My manager is in a meeting for the rest of the day so it's down to me to get the ball rolling if I want something happening quickly.

Absolutely. No way either payroll or HR would put through or authorise an increase without some paperwork.

It will be an admin slip up, either from your manager's point of view not doing what he/she needs to do, or something the other end.

I'm assuming you've got no reason to think they would refuse to pay you?

Get your manager to earn his/her salary and take responsibility.

I don't know what would constitute a reason not to pay me flowery. I guess I was just concerned that the fact it hadn't been formalised might be enough to save a bit of cash. Probably me just being paranoid.

Thanks

Also as I am management grade and don't get paid overtime, they could claim that I was just doing extra unpaid hours to cover my workload.

Well yes see what you mean, but this is a permanent hours change isn't it, rather than being a bit busy?

I honestly don't think you've got anything to worry about, just a bit of incompetence somewhere along the line which will get sorted out.

How annoying!

Could you call payroll direct and see if they've got the information about your change in hours? Then you might be able to find out where the communication has broken down. Also isn't that a contractual change that should be written down? Or have I got that wrong? (I'm no expert!)

That's the point spicemonster. It's not been written down anywhere. I gave a date when I wanted to start full-time - e-mails flew about - but I haven't seen an amended contract or signed anything.

A contractual change doesn't have to be written down, although obviously it should be for everyone's benefit.

Orm your manager will have had to authorise it somehow though, either there'll be a form, or he/she will have had to sign it off somehow.

OK. Thanks flowery

I just increased the DD to our joint a/c by 600. As things stand there won't be the money to cover it.

Sorry I didn't mean to panic you. Hope you sort it out soon.

S'OK.

Spoke to lovely HR manager who is going to check with the director and get an adhoc payment to me asap. Told her I couldn't really wait till end of next month.

Phew....

Thanks everyone.