Working in Hand 1 August 2022 at 7:39PM in Employment, jobseeking & training 8 replies 423 views

Robbin_7

Signed a contract for a new job that said wages would be paid monthly on a set day at the end of the month. I had expected to be paid for all the shifts I worked on that day as started on the first of the month. Prior to starting I was told there was a “ cut off point “ midway through the month and wages would only be paid up until that date.
I asked would the final two weeks I worked be paid in the following months wages and was told it was normal practice to be working two weeks in hand. When I looked at the structure of the rota it seemed I would forever be only paid for 9/10 shifts but working 16 a month, making my hourly rate below minimum wage so asked if the two weeks pay would be held by my employer and received no clarification bar that it was normal practise. I have usually been paid for all hours worked on a monthly basis or a week in lieu - being paid the week after I have worked the hours. Obviously with the rota structure and the 2 weeks in hand the monthly wages from this work would fall below my expectation - just wondering if working 2 weeks in hand is usual practise that I have not come across before, or is it correct to expect to be paid for all the hours you work in a month at the end of that month or the month thereafter?
thanks   

Savvy_Sue

I'm not sure I understand your question, but let's say cut off is 15th. 

You start on 1st July. On 15th, by some means or other, payroll finds out you've arrived, and that you've worked 10 shifts so far. They pay you for those shifts at the end of July. 

On 15th August, by some means or other, payroll finds out how many shifts you have worked since 15th July. Let's say that's 16 shifts. They pay you for those shifts at the end of August. 

You decide to leave on 30th September. I would not be surprised if they paid you then for the shifts worked between 15th August and 14th September at the end of September, and then pay you for the balance in October, because how else can they make sure they don't pay you for shifts you haven't done because you walked out? 

But the only way you can find out exactly how it works at your employer is to ask them. What cannot be happening is that they only ever pay you for 10 shifts when you actually work 16. When hours / shifts are variable, it's very difficult to pay all the shifts worked in a calendar month at the end of that calendar month, because you need time between whatever cutoff date you set and the actual payday to work out what everyone is owed! 

Diamandis

It's very typical for the cut off to be about 2 weeks before payday, every job I've had for the last 16 years has operated this way.  

Penguin_

Yes, we operate a system here where cut off is the 25th of the month & that is paid on the following 7th.

Ergates

Robbin_7 said:

Signed a contract for a new job that said wages would be paid monthly on a set day at the end of the month. I had expected to be paid for all the shifts I worked on that day as started on the first of the month. Prior to starting I was told there was a “ cut off point “ midway through the month and wages would only be paid up until that date.
I asked would the final two weeks I worked be paid in the following months wages and was told it was normal practice to be working two weeks in hand. When I looked at the structure of the rota it seemed I would forever be only paid for 9/10 shifts but working 16 a month, making my hourly rate below minimum wage so asked if the two weeks pay would be held by my employer and received no clarification bar that it was normal practise. I have usually been paid for all hours worked on a monthly basis or a week in lieu - being paid the week after I have worked the hours. Obviously with the rota structure and the 2 weeks in hand the monthly wages from this work would fall below my expectation - just wondering if working 2 weeks in hand is usual practise that I have not come across before, or is it correct to expect to be paid for all the hours you work in a month at the end of that month or the month thereafter?
thanks   

It is exceedingly unlikely this is the case - no company could commit wage theft so overtly and stay in business.

Each payday will cover the first 10 shifts of that month, and the last 6 of the previous month.  The first payday will only have the first 10 shifts in because there is no previous month.  You'll get the remainder for that month in the following month's pay, and so on rolling forwards.

Robbin_7

I thought exactly that - but when I asked was not reassured that would be the case - told again that it was normal to work two weeks in hand, then sent my rota in reply so I explicitly asked if the additional shifts worked would be added on to the next months pay or kept “ in hand “ by the employer as could not fathom the pay system - Perhaps they just thought it a stupid question - but it did not sit well with me to not be paid for two weeks work the month I had worked them & then not be reassured I would be paid them the following month - as if it just rolled on each month would be continually in arrears of pay - that’s why I asked the question on here as made no sense to me at all.
Now I find it even stranger that the employer could not reassure me I would be paid any hours worked those two weeks the next month only that it was normal to work 2 weeks in hand. One week in hand I can understand, so that they are protected if you give a weeks notice but two weeks just seemed odd to me and also the lack of reassurance or clarification they would be paid in the next month or held by the employer until you ceased to work for them. It’s a shame that they did not want to answer my direct question, even though they might have thought it a stupid one.

Own_Worst_Enermy

I feel for you - I was told two ‘trial’ shifts before jubilee bank holiday were paid but it turned out all 4 days that weekend the employer had no intention of paying - I thought I was on payroll 31st May but nope Employer said I joined 6th June. 💩 according to contract landing 4 weeks weeks later. I cannot believe an employer robbed me of a week neatly, in starting ok well I can.

Robbin_7

That’s really bad, so sorry & worse than a random theft as you had,  like most people would, trusted what had been agreed. Just only hope bad employers don’t get any worse in this economic climate ..sadly expect they might. 

theoretica

Robbin_7 said:

I thought exactly that - but when I asked was not reassured that would be the case - told again that it was normal to work two weeks in hand, then sent my rota in reply so I explicitly asked if the additional shifts worked would be added on to the next months pay or kept “ in hand “ by the employer as could not fathom the pay system - Perhaps they just thought it a stupid question - but it did not sit well with me to not be paid for two weeks work the month I had worked them & then not be reassured I would be paid them the following month - as if it just rolled on each month would be continually in arrears of pay - that’s why I asked the question on here as made no sense to me at all.
Now I find it even stranger that the employer could not reassure me I would be paid any hours worked those two weeks the next month only that it was normal to work 2 weeks in hand. One week in hand I can understand, so that they are protected if you give a weeks notice but two weeks just seemed odd to me and also the lack of reassurance or clarification they would be paid in the next month or held by the employer until you ceased to work for them. It’s a shame that they did not want to answer my direct question, even though they might have thought it a stupid one.

Sounds like poor communication to me, probably they didn't understand the question.  You will be paid for a full month's work - two weeks after the end of the month.  So while you are working for them you will always have worked at least 2 weeks that you have not yet been paid for as it takes that long to get the payroll sorted.  But they are probably so used to thinking of 'August's pay at the end of August' that they don't think of it as actually being pay for half of July and half of August.