Agency worker - manager at employing company not approving timesheets

SnowyOwl_2

I'm currently working through an agency on an hourly paid job. There is a system of electronic timesheet approval - I submit it via the agency's website, then the manager is forwarded a copy and she approves it via email. I've only been there since mid-June but this manager has now twice failed to approve my timesheets on time. There is nothing wrong with the timesheets, she just doesn't get round to it but I don't know until it's pay day and my payment hasn't been made! The knock on effect is my going into the red in my bank account because of the late payments, and suffering penalties for going into my overdraft (Halifax, £1 per day).

I'm not happy about this as you can imagine. But where do I stand regards the overdraft fees? Should I tackle the manager about this, or should I raise it via the agency for them to sort out? Or is it a "tough sh*t" situation?

louisecat

I don't think the bank will do much about it to be honest, but it's worth a try?

Do you know if any of the other agency staff are unhappy about it?

SnowyOwl_2

No, the bank won't help me! They are very clear about that.

I am the only agency staff member under this woman's supervision. I only work part-time hours having been unemployed for several months previously. I don't get much money so things are a bit hand to mouth - but this lack of care over my timesheets by my manager has really upset me! She approves via email - I know she uses her email daily as she sends and receives emails every day, so she's simply not bothering herself. I came out of unemployment skint but at least the dole was paid when it was supposed to be! Not getting paid on time has ramifications which this manager seems to be oblivious to.

Zazen999

Hi Manager.

You know when I work, and you don't bother to approve my timesheets; I don't get paid. Any chance that you could put a priority on the timesheet emails; so that I can keep a roof over my head as this month I've lost £x and I'm getting bank charges, and can't pay my rent/mortgage. Thanks

bap98189

You need to take the initiative on this one. First, have a word with your manager. Point out politely that you know she is busy but if the sheet is not returned, you don't get paid. They may not realise that without a signed sheet you don't get paid.

Then find out the day on which the agency need to receive the approved timesheet. On that day, ring the agency, ask if it has been received. If it hasn't then go and have a word with your manager to get it done.

vic77en

Can you prompt a polite reminder on the day the timesheet needs to be approved? If you're at work that day in person, if not a quick call or email - or set up a reminder in her email calendar?
When I have managed temp staff in the past, I've appreciated a reminder from them and approved the timesheet straight away so I know and they know it's done....

Tokalosh

Hi,
Just to say in regards to the electonic timesheet - can you not jump on the website where you input your hours and see if the manager has or has not approved the timesheet ? and then go and ask the manager to approve it.
I work at locum agency and all of our timesheets are electonic - and i know your frustration at the lack of "urgency" some managers take in regards to approving timesheets ( although my agency will pay without the timesheet being approved)
I would speak with the manager and let her know what impact this is having on you and your financies.

Hope you get this resolved soon- but i have found after doing this for many years that the Managers need "training/reminding" that they need to approve so their staff can be paid.

Victoriajayne

Also check the terms of your agreement with the agency - there may well be a term in your agreement with them that says they are still obliged to pay you if the employing company don't authorise your timesheet.
Then get on to the agency and ask them to look into it - they'll soon get onto the employing company and give them a nudge to authorise your timesheets, otherwise they won't be able to invoice the company and get their cut too ;-)

Littlegreelady

I have worked for a recruitment agency and as a temporary worker through that agency and we had an identical timesheet system (may well even be the same company).

The action to pay the timesheet doesn't go to the agency until it has been authorised. The company I worked for, we had up until Wednesday for the manager to authorise it, if the payment was to go out on Friday to the workers.

The best thing to do is as a previous poster suggested. I used to enter my timesheet details on a friday night, meaning the email was sent to my manager then. Monday afternoon I would log on - if it hadn't been authorised, I would poke my head round my managers door and ask if she had had the email (luckily we'd had some issues with her not getting the emails so it meant I always had an excuse to ask). If I could, I would hover in the door way till she found it and did it. Once, she didn't authorise it adn my pay was late, so I made a point of telling her (nicely mind) and joked that I didn't want to miss out on my Friday pay packet.

It is really irresponsble of your manager but I would just keep going on at her - it's your money and all she has to do is check the hours and then authorise it - it takes minutes to do. If you start early with the gentle reminders, on a Monday, it might start jogging her into a pattern. Just make sure you grab her when she;s not busy and at her desk - then she has no excuse for not doing it there and then

If you are on good terms with the agency, you could always ask them to maybe put in a courtesy call to your manager - just a "just wondering how you're finding the electronic timesheets" - if your maanger is maybe finding them hard to use, she would then be able to ask for help.

At the end of the day, if you don't get paid, the agency won't pay their staff the commission, so they'll want to help you get paid

SnowyOwl_2

Update:

The agency has got onto the client company and the timesheet has now been approved. I'll get the money on Tuesday next week instead of today. Better late than never!

I don't work Thursdays and Fridays, but am in on Saturday and Sunday instead - the manager also works at a different site and travels around a lot. I've only seen her once since my first day but I will acquire her mobile number and start nagging her from home. I did remind her previously that I wasn't paid one particular week on the due date because of her lack of approval. She approved the timesheet right away but didn't apologise for her omission. Other staff say that she's got a bit of a power thing going on, but I'll just have to get over that and not let her mess me around as it simply isn't necessary. I'm wary of rocking the boat too much as I really cannot afford to have this contract terminated early.

Thanks for all your replies and all your advice everyone.

Savvy_Sue

Assuming that the problem isn't going to recur, it might be worth getting on to any central HR dept and ask if there is a policy regarding bank charges if their actions have caused an employee to incur them. I know you're working for an agency, but it's still a similar enough situation to be worth an ask, I'd have thought.