New job: getting paid a month in arrears - how does it work?

anfieldred

Hi,

I've got a new job in the NHS starting 30th November, however my offer of employment says i will be paid a month in arrears.

When ive worked in temp jobs in the past on weekly pay, and working in arrears; i have worked one week, not got paid, then the next week i got my first week's pay, then a week's pay when i left.

Is this the same with monthly pay? it seems daft that you'd have to go two months before you get paid?
I have phoned HR who said i will get paid in December, however when i spoke to a member of staff on reception she said she started september 1st, and hadnt received any pay (this was mid october); so i've had two conflicting stories from the NHS.

If it is 2 months before im paid im going to be screwed; wont be able to afford to pay my rent /bills etc.

Has anyone come across this before and can you shed any light on this please?

Thank you

Cazza

I think it's fairly common for pay to be 1 month in arrears, TBH.

My pay day is 24th of the month, so if I had started work with them on 30th Nov, I would be paid on 24th Dec for the period 30th Nov to 23rd Dec; so the first month would be slightly short. The next pay day, 24th Jan, I would be paid for 24th Dec to 23rd Jan and so on.

With some large organisations, if you start work close to the first pay day, payroll just don't have time to add your bank details to the system for you to be included in the first pay run, so you might go 6 weeks til your first pay day. If this happens many places will agree to pay you by cheque for the first two weeks if you ask nicely. Your friend may have had problems like this, or might just not have given her banks details to payroll quickly enough?? If HR have confirmed you WILL be paid in December then I'd go with that, although it is likely to be a little less than usual.

anfieldred

Cazza wrote: »

I think it's fairly common for pay to be 1 month in arrears, TBH.

My pay day is 24th of the month, so if I had started work with them on 30th Nov, I would be paid on 24th Dec for the period 30th Nov to 23rd Dec; so the first month would be slightly short. The next pay day, 24th Jan, I would be paid for 24th Dec to 23rd Jan and so on.

With some large organisations, if you start work close to the first pay day, payroll just don't have time to add your bank details to the system for you to be included in the first pay run, so you might go 6 weeks til your first pay day. If this happens many places will agree to pay you by cheque for the first two weeks if you ask nicely. Your friend may have had problems like this, or might just not have given her banks details to payroll quickly enough?? If HR have confirmed you WILL be paid in December then I'd go with that, although it is likely to be a little less than usual.

Thanks for the reply. I had ot give bank details etc before i was given the final offer of employment, so im not sure why she didnt get paid; although she said it was a nightmare and i asked her again if she had not been paid for september; she said no definately not.

Im not bothered about getting less htan normal, just need something to cover rent/bills/xmas presents!

terra_ferma

The most usual patter I've come across is to be paid about 3 weeks in arrears and 1 in advance.

E.G. paid between 20th and 25th of the month, for that month's salary.
In your case it would work out that you would be paid the whole month of December, and the one day in November, towards the end of December (although many companies pay early in December).

This is often stated in your contract, or the offer letter.

honeypop

You haven't mentioned when in the month you would be getting paid, but assuming it's at the end of the month (Last working day is very common), then the girl who started 1st Sept and not been paid mid-Oct would be right. She would get paid Septembers salary at the end of October, which is quite normal.

So you would in fact be paid something in December, as you were told, because if you start 30th November, you will be paid Novembers salary at the end of December. Only 1 days worth of pay, but then only one day worked in November.

Hope this makes sense, although if the pay day is slightly different it should still work the same way. And all very normal to do it this way.

terra_ferma

honeypop wrote: »

You haven't mentioned when in the month you would be getting paid, but assuming it's at the end of the month (Last working day is very common), then the girl who started 1st Sept and not been paid mid-Oct would be right. She would get paid Septembers salary at the end of October, which is quite normal.

So you would in fact be paid something in December, as you were told, because if you start 30th November, you will be paid Novembers salary at the end of December. Only 1 days worth of pay, but then only one day worked in November.

Hope this makes sense, although if the pay day is slightly different it should still work the same way. And all very normal to do it this way.

...to me this is not normal, it's theft! The employer is keeping your money in their bank account and earning interests!

In every single job I've had, and everyone else I know, (mainly in the public/non profit sector) staff get paid at the end of the month for that month's salary.
But useful to know that this is not always the case though...

honeypop

terra_ferma wrote: »

In every single job I've had, and everyone else I know, (mainly in the public/non profit sector) staff get paid at the end of the month for that month's salary.
But useful to know that this is not always the case though...

All but one job I have had and every job my OH has had, we have been paid the way I describe, as are many people we know. It's as normal as being paid at the end of the month for the days worked in that same month, very common and neither are wrong.

Any

honeypop wrote: »

You haven't mentioned when in the month you would be getting paid, but assuming it's at the end of the month (Last working day is very common), then the girl who started 1st Sept and not been paid mid-Oct would be right. She would get paid Septembers salary at the end of October, which is quite normal.

I have never heard such a thing and I do payroll...
Normal is getting paid at the end of the month for the worked month, but not month later. But then I don't work for public sector.

Overtime - I can undestand being paid this way, but not basic pay.

OP, the best is to call payroll and ask when you get paid!! Surely you must have some details of where to call or who to ask if you have any questions?
Do you have any line manager?

Caroline73_2

In the NHS - you work during November and you get paid your basic wage at the end of November, your extras (such as mileage, unsocial hours, overtime - what's that?) would get paid at the end of December.

This might not happen during your first month as there is a cut off date for things to be in the payroll department. Having worked for quite a few NHS trusts I would recommend checking that your details have got to the payroll department on time, if they haven't you can sometimes get a cheque issued. This is probably what happened with the receptionist.

movingforward2010

isnt what usually happens?;

everyone gets paid on the 30th of the month, so if you start on the 17th for example you will get paid from 17th - 30th.

terra_ferma

wxmlad wrote: »

isnt what usually happens?;

everyone gets paid on the 30th of the month, so if you start on the 17th for example you will get paid from 17th - 30th.

I think that on the 17th it would be too late, past the cut off date and they would be paid the following month.
But the OP is starting on 30/11, so should make it for the December cut off date.