Asda pay problems

Invalid_Username

Hi,

I have a family member who works for Asda in one of their stores. They’ve worked there for a few months and they’re having major issues with the pay. 

Ever since they’ve worked there, Asda have underpaid them. This has taken place over 3 months and currently they’re owed around £1,300 in back pay. 

Every time they get underpaid they speak to payroll who send them to their team manager. This person apologises, says it won’t happen again, but then the next month it happens again. 

So far, they’ve never been back paid any of the money they’re owed. And if they ask Asda to do so, they say they can either wait another month for payday or pay 30% of the outstanding amount and have it immediately. 

30% is quite a whack, especially when it’s not your fault that Asda have held on to your money. 

The pay isn’t the best and they’re trying to make ends meet. Losing money every month and being over a grand short over three months is causing them serious hardship with their mortgage, bills and general living - they’re having to skip meals because Asda just won’t pay them what they’re owed. 

Asda don’t dispute the amount they owe. And they keep saying you’ll get it next month. But every month they make an error again. 

They’ve tried to approach the main store manager, but this is apparently frowned on my their team manager.

It doesn’t seem right to me that Asda can keep doing this and then expect them to pay for the company’s mistakes. 

It’s started to take a toll on their health with the level of stress this is causing. Nobody seems to be sorting it and this person is now having to seek help with their mental health and anxiety due to the stress it’s causing struggling with making ends meet. 

Has anyone experienced this before and does anyone know what can be done about it?

On-the-coast

No specific experience with Asda... but over the years I've had a few problems with payroll mistakes.  Most major companies (i presume Asda counts as major) want to sort these things out as soon as possible.
I'd recommend taking the problem to HR (if there is an HR department). they are supposed to be somewhat independant from line-management, and it would be normal to go there next if payroll and team-leader are getting things mixed up.
btw - it's normal for things to be a little odd in first month (pro-rata pay depending on when you start).... and it's also possible that things are confused by such issues as using a temporary tax code pending the processing of the previous employers P45 (if there was one).

Marcon

Invalid_Username said:

They’ve tried to approach the main store manager, but this is apparently frowned on my their team manager.

Tough; let them frown. The issue needs to be sorted out.

Savvy_Sue

Union (probably USDAW). Join now. 

theoretica

Does what they have been paid work out at under the minimum wage for the total hours worked? 

Khaderbhai

As above, worth contacting HR asap. It could be unlinked and simply a payroll error, but the Issa brothers don’t have a great reputation from their Euro Garages days (underpay, late payers). Asda are too big a company to be making pay mistakes so the matters need pressing.  

Invalid_Username

theoretica said:

Does what they have been paid work out at under the minimum wage for the total hours worked? 

Yes it does 

MattMattMattUK

Invalid_Username said:

Hi,

I have a family member who works for Asda in one of their stores. They’ve worked there for a few months and they’re having major issues with the pay. 

Ever since they’ve worked there, Asda have underpaid them. This has taken place over 3 months and currently they’re owed around £1,300 in back pay. 

Every time they get underpaid they speak to payroll who send them to their team manager. This person apologises, says it won’t happen again, but then the next month it happens again. 

So far, they’ve never been back paid any of the money they’re owed. And if they ask Asda to do so, they say they can either wait another month for payday or pay 30% of the outstanding amount and have it immediately. 

30% is quite a whack, especially when it’s not your fault that Asda have held on to your money. 

The pay isn’t the best and they’re trying to make ends meet. Losing money every month and being over a grand short over three months is causing them serious hardship with their mortgage, bills and general living - they’re having to skip meals because Asda just won’t pay them what they’re owed. 

Asda don’t dispute the amount they owe. And they keep saying you’ll get it next month. But every month they make an error again. 

They’ve tried to approach the main store manager, but this is apparently frowned on my their team manager.

It doesn’t seem right to me that Asda can keep doing this and then expect them to pay for the company’s mistakes. 

It’s started to take a toll on their health with the level of stress this is causing. Nobody seems to be sorting it and this person is now having to seek help with their mental health and anxiety due to the stress it’s causing struggling with making ends meet. 

Has anyone experienced this before and does anyone know what can be done about it?

What is the actual reason for underpayment? Not paying full hours, not paying overtime, not paying full rate, emergency tax etc? Without that answer no one can give you the correct answer. 

Invalid_Username

MattMattMattUK said:

Invalid_Username said:

Hi,

I have a family member who works for Asda in one of their stores. They’ve worked there for a few months and they’re having major issues with the pay. 

Ever since they’ve worked there, Asda have underpaid them. This has taken place over 3 months and currently they’re owed around £1,300 in back pay. 

Every time they get underpaid they speak to payroll who send them to their team manager. This person apologises, says it won’t happen again, but then the next month it happens again. 

So far, they’ve never been back paid any of the money they’re owed. And if they ask Asda to do so, they say they can either wait another month for payday or pay 30% of the outstanding amount and have it immediately. 

30% is quite a whack, especially when it’s not your fault that Asda have held on to your money. 

The pay isn’t the best and they’re trying to make ends meet. Losing money every month and being over a grand short over three months is causing them serious hardship with their mortgage, bills and general living - they’re having to skip meals because Asda just won’t pay them what they’re owed. 

Asda don’t dispute the amount they owe. And they keep saying you’ll get it next month. But every month they make an error again. 

They’ve tried to approach the main store manager, but this is apparently frowned on my their team manager.

It doesn’t seem right to me that Asda can keep doing this and then expect them to pay for the company’s mistakes. 

It’s started to take a toll on their health with the level of stress this is causing. Nobody seems to be sorting it and this person is now having to seek help with their mental health and anxiety due to the stress it’s causing struggling with making ends meet. 

Has anyone experienced this before and does anyone know what can be done about it?

What is the actual reason for underpayment? Not paying full hours, not paying overtime, not paying full rate, emergency tax etc? Without that answer no one can give you the correct answer. 

That’s the unusual thing, they haven’t given a reason other than to say it’s just an error with the payroll. So they’re working their full hours and should be getting paid a certain amount, but for some reason - put down as a payroll error each month - they’re not getting the full amount each month. 

They get told they’ll get it in next months pay. But that never happens. Then they’re offered a mid pay payment for 30% charge. 

It almost feels deliberate for them, like they’re trying to make money off their staff. 

JCS1

The 30% charge will be for approximate tax and NI and will be treated as an advance. Should then be resolved on next payslip.

MattMattMattUK

Invalid_Username said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Invalid_Username said:

Hi,

I have a family member who works for Asda in one of their stores. They’ve worked there for a few months and they’re having major issues with the pay. 

Ever since they’ve worked there, Asda have underpaid them. This has taken place over 3 months and currently they’re owed around £1,300 in back pay. 

Every time they get underpaid they speak to payroll who send them to their team manager. This person apologises, says it won’t happen again, but then the next month it happens again. 

So far, they’ve never been back paid any of the money they’re owed. And if they ask Asda to do so, they say they can either wait another month for payday or pay 30% of the outstanding amount and have it immediately. 

30% is quite a whack, especially when it’s not your fault that Asda have held on to your money. 

The pay isn’t the best and they’re trying to make ends meet. Losing money every month and being over a grand short over three months is causing them serious hardship with their mortgage, bills and general living - they’re having to skip meals because Asda just won’t pay them what they’re owed. 

Asda don’t dispute the amount they owe. And they keep saying you’ll get it next month. But every month they make an error again. 

They’ve tried to approach the main store manager, but this is apparently frowned on my their team manager.

It doesn’t seem right to me that Asda can keep doing this and then expect them to pay for the company’s mistakes. 

It’s started to take a toll on their health with the level of stress this is causing. Nobody seems to be sorting it and this person is now having to seek help with their mental health and anxiety due to the stress it’s causing struggling with making ends meet. 

Has anyone experienced this before and does anyone know what can be done about it?

What is the actual reason for underpayment? Not paying full hours, not paying overtime, not paying full rate, emergency tax etc? Without that answer no one can give you the correct answer. 

That’s the unusual thing, they haven’t given a reason other than to say it’s just an error with the payroll. So they’re working their full hours and should be getting paid a certain amount, but for some reason - put down as a payroll error each month - they’re not getting the full amount each month. 

They get told they’ll get it in next months pay. But that never happens. Then they’re offered a mid pay payment for 30% charge. 

It almost feels deliberate for them, like they’re trying to make money off their staff. 

The reason would be obvious from their pay slips, unless the amount received does not match the payslip? Just for clarity, do they actually work for Asda, or are they an agency worker? 

They are not trying to make money from their staff by making a deliberate 30% deduction from staff wages because that would cost them far more than it could possibly make them.