Bank holiday = late pay?

Lieja

Hi all,

I get the feeling this is going to be one of those 'like it or lump it' situations but it might be worth an ask!

My OH is paid weekly on a Friday. Because of Easter weekend he's been told that he won't be paid until next Wednesday. Can employers get away with paying so much later than expected?

Undervalued

Technically no unless his contract gives a range of acceptable pay dates (which is actually quite likely).

However it is poor practice and most firms pay early under such circumstances.

Realistically though, even if the firm are in the wrong, it will be very difficult to do anything about it.

Lieja

Unfortunately, he's worked for the company for a number of years and didn't actually sign a contract when he started. They periodically send him one when they fancy changing something, but he's never signed one.

Is there anything he can do as a long term solution? They've always paid a day late for bank holidays, but he used to get paid on a Wednesday so it wasn't a big deal. Now it's moved to a Friday, it'll obviously be three days late each time there's one bank holiday!

One of his colleagues successfully got them to pay some bank charges that he got as a result of the late pay when we had one extra bank holidays for the jubilee, but I think he's a bit ballsier than my OH when it comes to possibly losing his job over it!

Takeaway_Addict

Lieja wrote: »

Unfortunately, he's worked for the company for a number of years and didn't actually sign a contract when he started. They periodically send him one when they fancy changing something, but he's never signed one.

Is there anything he can do as a long term solution? They've always paid a day late for bank holidays, but he used to get paid on a Wednesday so it wasn't a big deal. Now it's moved to a Friday, it'll obviously be three days late each time there's one bank holiday!

One of his colleagues successfully got them to pay some bank charges that he got as a result of the late pay when we had one extra bank holidays for the jubilee, but I think he's a bit ballsier than my OH when it comes to possibly losing his job over it!

You've known this is coming as its been two years, can you not prepare yourselves better for this eventuality?

Undervalued

Lieja wrote: »

Unfortunately, he's worked for the company for a number of years and didn't actually sign a contract when he started. They periodically send him one when they fancy changing something, but he's never signed one.

Doesn't matter. By continuing to work there (or not positively rejecting the contract and working "under protest") he has accepted it just as much as if he had signed it.

amiehall

It's pretty poor practice. It's more or less universal to pay early for a BH.

I'm not sure I would be that fussed about it though and I'm not shy about sticking up for myself at work. You know about this well in advance. In addition, any DDs due on normal payday will be late due to the BH so it shouldn't really cause any significant problems should it?

If it's decided that is is worth making a fuss over, your OH needs to speak to the employer and ask them to make the payment earlier.

Lieja

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

You've known this is coming as its been two years, can you not prepare yourselves better for this eventuality?

What's been two years?

He used to get paid one day late, and was given no notice of his payday changing earlier this year. He found out yesterday that his pay would be five days late this week.

I made no mention of our preparations in my post - do you know something about our finances that I don't?

Lieja

amiehall wrote: »

It's pretty poor practice. It's more or less universal to pay early for a BH.

I'm not sure I would be that fussed about it though and I'm not shy about sticking up for myself at work. You know about this well in advance. In addition, any DDs due on normal payday will be late due to the BH so it shouldn't really cause any significant problems should it?

If it's decided that is is worth making a fuss over, your OH needs to speak to the employer and ask them to make the payment earlier.

This week's DD's would be taken on Tuesday, so it could cause a problem if there's not enough to cover them.

I doubt asking would work tbh, they're not all that communicative. His main issue is that he travels quite a bit for shifts and so will struggle to pay for fuel over the weekend. We should be ok (if we have a frugal Easter!) but I just wondered whether they were legally obliged to pay on time, as he and a few colleagues are looking into this along with a few other issues they have with the employer.

Lieja

blondebubbles wrote: »

What did they do last Easter? Is there a reason they can't pay on Tuesday?

Last year he was paid on a Wednesday, so it was only a day late the week after Easter Sunday.

I don't actually know why they can't pay on Tuesday, or even this Thursday. They're not the best at rational conversation.

It's more an issue for a colleague of his who lives alone and has a small child to provide for. His situation means he has no cash left at the end of the week, and so even buying an Easter egg is a push. Five days with no pay and having to pay for travel to work is too much, but missing shifts equals missing pay so he's a bit stuck. Add bank charges to the mix and it's a nightmare, so they're all trying to see what they can do collectively, other than loan the poor lad the money he needs each time it happens!

lakes17

blondebubbles wrote: »

What did they do last Easter? Is there a reason they can't pay on Tuesday?

The OP said in their post that he was paid on a Wednesday until earlier this year when they changed it to a Friday, therefore this is the first Easter that payday has caused problems.

amiehall

They are required to pay on time. Sadly I'm not sure what you can do about it.

Actions are all meant to resolve wages that remain unpaid if you understand me? So yes, they should pay on time every month, but by the time they've paid you, it's too late to take action on it.

If they're unwilling to be reasonable and discuss it, the only thing you can do is try and set some money aside and prepare yourself. Sorry.