Money Moral Dilemma: Should I tell my employer I've been overpaid?

REJP

Haven't we had this one recently?
Of course you tell your employer of the error, you would be quick enough to do so if you were underpaid.
Keeping the money is theft.
If it is a small business think about the consequences for the future if profits are lowered by such mistakes, resulting in job losses.Grow up and own up.

[Deleted User]

REJP wrote: »

Haven't we had this one recently?

Perhaps we should have the one from an 'employee who say's "I haven't received my pay rise as due per my contract, because my employer likes bunging extra money into another colleague's account, so I've lost out." - (more aimed at the poster who decides to call us do-gooders.)

Once again, as stated OP needs to ask the company how this mistake really came about, if it falls to someone else to record hours.. Which it could have done as not every work place has self systems on log time in and out for employees, ...unfortunately not covered in posting one or lack of info. People who go bankrupt often pay the price with the careers they'd like, people get done for benefit fraud etc so why would I say it's ok to take and don't worry about getting caught.

Very sadly, I have a brother likely to be dismissed very soon from his 11 year job as he talked to much recently during non-related work convo's for matters not about work (silly lad) but it's viewed theft of employer time. he can least afford to lose his job - but this is 2017.

happyinflorida

If you value your job, of course you should tell your employer as it would be considered theft if found out and you'd said nothing - they won't trust you again!

sleepymans

MSE_Sarah wrote: »

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I’ve been overpaid this month by mistake. Should I own up or put it down to good luck and trouser it?

Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!

[purplesignup][/purplesignup]

Keep quiet... F'em! Hope you get away with it!

NBLondon

Happened to me once when temping. I was paid twice by a certain agency for the same piece of work. I e-mailed them and got no answer. Three months later they realised and claimed the second payment back with no notice or acknowledgment that I'd informed them. Good thing I'd kept it aside and not blown it.

Griffey

This happened to me about twenty years ago. I went from full time to part time but my employer did not adjust my salary accordingly. I'd just had a baby so I couldn't tell what day it was half the time. Anyway fast forward six months and my employer gets me into a meeting to tell me that I'd been overpaid and that I needed to pay this back. Luckily for me the MD was in the meeting and told the finance team that I was a new mum with money worries anyway so I kept the salary that I was paid but didn't get a pay rise for about ten years. But not everyone is that lucky.

money4nothing

What would you do if they had paid you too little? Tell them.
Do the right thing and tell them.

Hooda_Thunkit

If you were underpaid, you'd be quick enough to howl about it. Be honest and howl just as loudly if you're overpaid. It's not your money and you're stealing if you don't own up.
Besides that, these things always come to light in the end, and it just isn't worth being branded a thief, fired, and ruining your reputation.

maisie_cat

When a government department was merged with another a decade or so ago the staff who were made redundant were paid their redundancy twice, it was an HR error. It wasn't wasn't picked up for a few months because the costs were attributed wrongly within the merger costs.
One member of staff, a professionally qualified accountant, received £60k twice. She didn't even attempt to report the duplicate payment and claimed that she thought it was "correct", yeah right!
It was repaid months later, there is no way I would not report it, not least because no one will ever trust you again

gaving7095

Tell them.