I want my damn money!

[DrFaroohk]

I know perfectly well that my paycheck, and the checks of a hundred other employees, are sitting in the boss's office right now. I know they were there yesterday for payday.

However, they decided we're not going to get them until today, at the end of the shift. Why? Because it's friday and its an unscheduled work day and they know people are gonna call in sick because no one wants to give up a day off, so they hold the checks hostage.

Ok, I get that. Valid reasoning. Of course, I had a valid reason for missing a day of work once but they still called it unexcused. But that's beside the point.

I wonder if I bought a product from them, would they let me pay for it tomorrow cuz I don't have money today? Of course not. They were say "we want our money on time."

Sure its only one day, but we get paid bi-weekly and even that one day puts a stretch on the budget. Plus, we might not get off work until after the banks close. That means I have to wait until Monday to cash my check, when my car payment and internet bill and several other bills were due yesterday.

Just more bullshit. Yay we're the powerful company and we get to screw you even harder today!

[MaggieTheCat]

That sounds somewhat illegal to me, but I have never worked in payroll/accounting for a company before so I don't know any of the rules/laws regarding paychecks. Does your company offer direct deposit? You would probably have the money faster that way regardless, since you wouldn't have to go to the bank to cash a check. Also, a lot banks are open on Saturdays, would you be able to cash your check tomorrow?

[protege]

I hate to say it, but if Friday is payday, they don't have to give you the checks until then. At least with direct deposit, my pay shows up around midnight the night before. All I get in the pay envelope, is a check stub. Nothing to deposit, no worries. It's much easier that way ;)

[MaggieTheCat]

It sounds like Thursday was payday, though.

I know perfectly well that my paycheck, and the checks of a hundred other employees, are sitting in the boss's office right now. I know they were there yesterday for payday.

If Thursday is payday, can they legally withhold checks from employees until the next day?

[Hobbs]

Hmm, the wording is a bit iffy, Maggie. They could have been in the office, but for distribution on Friday. Some managers, however, might have been lenient in saying, "If it's there, take it." I know at my job, the checks would come in a couple days early, but they weren't allowed to distribute until the actual "payday."

Dr, you should get direct deposit. Less hassle.

[Plaidman]

Indeed. Same for us. Payday is friday. However alot of times, checks come in on thursday. Some managers let their employees take it, but some banks will not accept them until the next day period. (I only rarely had that problem. Only the new people at banks refused).

[jackfaire]

Hmm, the wording is a bit iffy, Maggie. .

Not really the wording seems clear to me that the checks where there yesterday for payday which indicates the time of payday. Yesterday.

[Hobbs]

He didn't say yesterday (Thursday) was payday, do you?

[Plaidman]

Not really the wording seems clear to me that the checks where there yesterday for payday which indicates the time of payday. Yesterday.

None of us know when his pay period is. Not our business. But if the company's pay period is that day, but got checks in early, that doesn't mean they get checks early. (Alot of places still get checks a day in advance. Sometimes they'll hand it out that day, some don't. Depends on places of business).

[MaggieTheCat]

I guess to me it was clear by the wording that Thursday was payday, but I can see where it could also mean Friday...however, I wonder why DF would be complaining if payday is always Friday? I would also find it odd if the normal payday is a day when most employees don't work.

[blas87]

I think his real complaint is that the company uses the checks as "collateral" so that everyone makes it to their mandatory extra shifts.....which is kind of sucky if that's true.

[Hobbs]

Well, if it's mandatory...then I'd be PO'ed too if people ditched after getting paid.

[blas87]

I am inclined to agree with you, but I'm also kind of bitter on that subject because I have been on mandatory overtime for almost a year.

It still smells fishy to hold paychecks hostage because people tend to call in a lot or refuse to work their extra shifts. If they are so gung-ho on write ups (like in Dr's other thread) why aren't they getting rid of people who do that?

[Hobbs]

I am inclined to agree with you, but I'm also kind of bitter on that subject because I have been on mandatory overtime for almost a year.

It still smells fishy to hold paychecks hostage because people tend to call in a lot or refuse to work their extra shifts. If they are so gung-ho on write ups (like in Dr's other thread) why aren't they getting rid of people who do that?
In the Docs first case, it was more on a one-to-one deal. But with the people skipping out w/ their checks, that seems more like a mass exodus. Easy to fire one person, harder to fire a dozen, if you get my meaning.

[DrFaroohk]

I've been wondering that same thing myself. Someone I don't really trust told me that it's illegal for them to fire us if we don't come in on that extra shift. I don't know.

As far as I know, payday is Thursday. I've been there two months now and every check has come on a Thursday. To me that makes Thursday payday.

[Fryk]

You should ask and find out, so that if you do decide to fight this (and I would), you don't look like an idiot if payday is friday.

[blas87]

Doc, how often are you guys expected to work these extra Fridays?

[Racket_Man]

Someone correct me if I am wrong here. but on the required Federal/State labor law poster tack to the wall at work there is something to the following (this is a lot of paraphrasing):

I "believe" that Federal (and most likely state ) law is set up in the following manner. A Speciifc PAY DATE has to be set for pay to be distributed after each pay period. this means that you WILL receive your pay for the previous pay period on on or after such and such a day after the end of the pervious pay period. this includes weekely, bi-weekly and monthly pay periods. this "pay date" must be publicly known to all employees and can not exceed like 14 business days after the end of a pay period.

I will use my work as an example:
we have bi-weekly pay periods running from Tuesday to Monday (meaning 2 weeks of T to M). our pay checks cover that 2 weeks. Now the pay period ends on Monday night and we received our checks (after 2pm) 9 days later on Thrusday. we can not get our checks any ealier than that even if the Thrusday falls on a "the store is closed" type of holiday (like say for instance Thanksgiving or Christmas).

My company recently changed payroll companies. when this chage occurred our pay date changed from 7 days from end of payroll period (on as Tuesday) to Thursday. all of the stores were REQUIRED to notifiy ALL employees of the change far enough ahead of time (like 6 - 8 weeks)

Now if the "offiicial and customerary" paydate at his workplace is indeed Thursday then the company is violating the law. If the paydate is indeed Friday but working on Friday is voluntary then the company is well within its rights.

[jackfaire]

At my work the paydays fall on specific dates the 5th and the 20th each day 5 days after the ending of the previous pay cycle.

The only leeway is if either of those dates lands on a weekend then is determined as such if for example the 5th falls on a Saturday we are paid on the preceding Friday on Sunday we get paid on Monday.

[telecom_goddess]

I hate to say it, but if Friday is payday, they don't have to give you the checks until then. At least with direct deposit, my pay shows up around midnight the night before. All I get in the pay envelope, is a check stub. Nothing to deposit, no worries. It's much easier that way ;)

Me too! I couldn't live without direct deposit....

[Fryk]

I don't trust banks in general enough for me to do direct deposit. After 2 banks in 2 different states that couldn't count and lost a hundred or so of my money each... I'd rather just deal with the hassle. Althoug, my current credit union is earning my trust daily, so I might take the plunge with them someday...