<p>I recently started working as a library assistant at State of Michigan Library (so all of my paychecks go through the state of Michigan- yippie -.-). I’ve been working there for three weeks and I haven’t gotten paid (two week delay). I just got access to my HR page and I noticed that the check that I’m supposed to get this week has me working as a full time worker (40 hours a week) when I only work 15 hours/week. So not only is my check wrong, but I see that they’ve also opened up a 401k contribution and stuff like that. </p>
<p>Obviously, I’m going to tell my boss but I was wondering if I should tell her now or wait until the check is actually deposited into my account. I’m nervous because I really need to get paid (as I’m low on money and Christmas is so close) and my boss is so slow on everything (it took me 3 weeks to get a log in into the computer and a Michigan email- whereas an assistant in the same department under a different boss got hers the 2nd day) and I’m afraid that it’ll take a while to get all of this resolved. I also wonder if it’s just a fluke on my HR page and when I get my check, it’ll be the right amount. </p>
<p>Parents, what should I do? I’m assuming the overwhelming response is going to be “Tell your boss on Monday.” but I’ve never been in this situation and I just want to make sure that that’s the right thing to do.</p>
<p>But what is “dealing with it”? Do I tell my boss? Do I tell someone from the HR department? I’ve only ever worked for mom and pop shops so this is all new to me.</p>
<p>Tell your boss on Monday. If the check is deposited you’ll be having to pay it back and with taxes etc taken out of it, it will turn into a big hassle. Not correcting it now can put a stop on your next check.</p>
<p>I would wait until the deposit is made; it is possible that the error will be found in the interim.
Once the deposit is made, DO NOT spend any more than you expected to be paid, so that you have the funds available to return; and deal directly with HR at that time.</p>
<p>HR will be able to calculate the amount you actually earned and the appropriate taxes.</p>
<p>Are you absolutely certain the HR page isn’t listing FTE - “Full-time equivalent?” Because you have not been paid before and are not familiar with how your HR page will appear when the payment is correct, I agree with mominva - wait to see if the correct amount is deposited, let your supervisor or HR know if there is an error, and DO NOT SPEND the overpayment amount.</p>
<p>I just went to check my HR page and it’s down :(. What I know is this: the amount that it says is my pay after taxes and all that is $700-something (gross pay was listed as just under $1k). My gross pay (before taxes) should be ~370. (30 hours at 12.36/hour). I’ll check back after the maintenance is done to see whether or not it says FTE. </p>
<p>I won’t spend the overpayment amount no matter what.</p>
<p>I agree with mominva. Ordinarily, in an honesty issue, sooner is better. However, your fear may have some basis. If your check is discovered to have an error now, it is possible you may wind up waiting for a “corrected” supplemental check to be issued, which could be a two-week delay.</p>
<p>Wait till you get the check and then make sure you don’t spend a penny more than you are actually due, so you can repay the library.</p>
<p>^ That’s my fear. And two weeks would be December 23 when the library is closed. I literally just can not afford to wait that long (driving back and forth has been a major hit on my gas budget and therefore I’m extremely low on money- driving back and forth every day without a paycheck might be literally impossible).</p>
<p>Report it NOW. First thi9ng Monday morning, tell your boss you what you saw on your HR page, and tell her that you will call the HR department. This a fairly easy thing to fix BEFORE the check is cut. If there is a problem HR can most likely fix it within minutes – but once a check is cut things become more difficult for everybody. Your next check is likely to be held until it is figured out. Because this will be one of the last pay periods of the year your W-2 will most likely be delayed. Doesn’t matter if you don’t spend the money or not, you may be expected to return it with interest. AND if it comes out that you were aware of the problem before your check was cut and didn’t tell anyone, it can reflect badly on you. </p>
<p>The easiest thing to do is to tell HR right away. When you speak to them, you can emphasis that you will need your pay on time (which by the way, they have to do if they are notified of the mistake in a timely manner).</p>
<p>edite to add:</p>
<p>Just because the library will be closed on the 23rd doesn’t mean that payroll and HR will be closed. The week between Christmas and New Years is one of the busiest times of the year for these departments. They will be there and they will get you your check.</p>
<p>Yep, for their mistake. Doesn’t soound fair, but some places will do it. They agrue that you had use of their money for a period of time so you should pay for it.</p>
<ol>
<li>You will not be expected to return it with interest.</li>
<li>Is it possible that, due to the three-week lag, you are being paid for three weeks all in one check?? 15 X 3 = 45 hours.</li>
<li>Tell your boss, tell HR, tell whomever. You will absolutely get points for noticing it before they do.</li>
<li>They might not require you to literally re-pay it; they might instead hold back from your next paychecks until you are even with what you are actually owed.</li>
</ol>
<p>Unfortunately this happens not infrequently in my company – our PR system is not a good one – and if it was their mistake, it’s no-harm/no-foul as far as you’re concerned.</p>
<p>It may or may not be a mistake. You don’t really know since you haven’t actually received a paycheck yet. Since this is a large organization apparently, you can either discuss it directly with your manager or you can contact the payroll department and tell them you’re confused by the online payroll system and are wondering why it states the numbers it states. This could well just be an idiosyncrasy with the way their online payroll system works and not be a real problem. </p>
<p>If the payroll department confirms that the numbers being reflected are correct from their system’s perspective, i.e. are truly wrong for your hours, 401K, etc., then you can contact HR and ask what’s up with this because they may have entered something wrong into the payroll system for you.</p>
<p>Of course, you manager s/b able to address all of this as well or direct you to which department to contact. </p>
<p>If I were you I’d ask the questions right away. If nothing else it’ll demonstrate to your manager that you’re honest and on the ball in checking it all out and pursuing the right answer.</p>
<p>I work as HR liaison for our West Coast office. It is an HR issue, not your boss (unless your boss goofed paperwork, but that is still an HR issue). HR will clear it up with the payroll department, or clarify it for you. Your boss will likely be clueless. </p>
<p>Contact HR (Monday) with an “I’d like some clarification please…” statement.</p>
<p>I think you should tell them Monday but deposit the check if you have them because it will be deducted the next pay check. I wouldn’t overspend the overpayment.</p>
I think it depends on the company. Often the payroll department is separate from the mainstream HR department and regardless, an employee s/b able to go to their manager for anything who could then either answer the question since they may have dealt with it before (maybe this scenario is normal there for new employees) or can at least direct the employee to the right department and maybe even provide a name of the person to contact. Any issues like this do come under the purview of the manager to get it straightened out even if it’s by just directing the employee who to speak with about it.</p>