May have been cheated; out of some pay. LONG

[Faustus]

This is a bit complicated. I since the end of March of this year have worked a shift that starts at 9pm CST because of this I get whats called shift differential. This means I get paid a bit more (in a small percentage) for having a crappy shift. In order t get this you have to start your shift between some specific hours. (like 9pm to 12am or some crap like that).

Anyway In March I went from starting at 9pm on the dot, the begining of the shift dif people, so I come in and clock in and don't notice anything different. Then someone sees my computer generated time card and says "Why are you not getting differential the entire week?" I never realized anything was wrong! So I start to pay attention.

Every time I clock in just a few seconds early so that it reads say 8:59pm, I'm cheated of that extra tiny percent of pay that entire day. This has been happening almost all year! On almost 1/3rd of my shifts!

Should I bring this to anyones attention? If so do I have a leg to stand on legally? Should I feel I'm owed this money? Or should I just accept it as my fault since I didn't realize how unforgiving our time system is?

[b1tchm4gn3t]

I would definatly be asking as I would feel Im owed that money.

[offline]

Should I feel I'm owed this money? Or should I just accept it as my fault since I didn't realize how unforgiving our time system is?

You bet. A polite letter to HR/payroll stating the facts is in order. You need a ruling on this, either way, and so does the company.

[Faustus]

Also I did the math. Its only about $300 total so its not like its a crap ton of money but still... I just can't afford to get the company pissed at me ya know.

[jimmalenko]

It's a tough one, for if your timecard said 9:01pm, it would be the company coming after you.

It's basically sounds like a glitch in the system, as it's obviously just calculating based on parameters input, and those parameters must state that before 9:00pm is "normal" time. Although I must say that I'm surprised that the payroll dept work solely off a timeclock - most businesses I've worked with work off the roster / contracts as a base, and then the timecodes 2nd. So if the roster says 9:00pm starting time, then that's your official start time irregardless of what time you actually clock on (barring getting called in early of course). One company even expected us to clock on between 10 and 5 minutes before our shift "officially" started (gratis of course).

Just out of interest are you on contract ?

[Faustus]

Nope, I'm fully employeed by my company.

[jimmalenko]

Nope, I'm fully employeed by my company.

Let me rephrase;

Are you full-time / part-time / casual ?

[ZAPPER]

You are owed what you are owed. If you don't want it, PM me and I'll give you my address so they can send it to me. Unfortunatly this sounds like a scam and not an honest mistake on their part. IMHO

[Faustus]

Oh sorry jim, full time for the last 5 years.

[jimmalenko]

OK. I'm just trying to get to the point where it would be reasonable to assume that you've probably signed some sort of agreement on undergoing full-time employment with them that spells out your hours of work (whereas as a casual you obviously have no "guarantee" of hours in any given week / fortnight / month). It would also state what award (if any) you're under, and then in that award it would state this condition regarding penalties for commencement of shits during the applicable time periods.

As you say though, at the end of the day, you need to weigh up if the $300 or thereabouts is worth possibly getting Management pissed over. I wonder whether you could just mention it "off the record", asking for a clarification from your paymaster or something, and letting them themselves realise they've fooked up, or that the system is far from perfect being fully electronic.




EDIT:

I just noticed a spelling mistake, but it reads hilariously funny so I'll leave it in

[Faustus]

Well sadly our Payroll department isn't even onsite so its kinda tough to contact them unless its pretty offical. I think I may mention it to my supervisor but given the past I don't think he'd do anything unless I lit a fire under him over it.

[jimmalenko]

I guess the other approach would be passively devious - cut your losses and just make sure that you start clocking on just after 9:00pm from now on.

[Faustus]

I guess the other approach would be passively devious - cut your losses and just make sure that you start clocking on just after 9:00pm from now on.

Trust me. When I first noticed it about a month ago I no longer clock in even a second early.

[jimmalenko]

I guess the other approach would be passively devious - cut your losses and just make sure that you start clocking on just after 9:00pm from now on.

Trust me. When I first noticed it about a month ago I no longer clock in even a second early.

Niiiiice

[MackemX]

it's a bit crap you can't approach Payroll about it but if they have a set time and you clock in before it then

is it a 24 hour shift pattern you work on? If so what would happen if you clocked in 1 minute before the shift allowance stopped? If there isn't such as system then ask what would happen ifthere was and would they then pay extra?

can you tell I was the type not to stay quiet at my old job if I thought something wasn't right? I remember one time they changed all the break times and shift overlaps. We ended up losing out something like 5 minutes per week but we didn't half kick up a fuss until it was rectified

EDIT:

I just noticed a spelling mistake, but it reads hilariously funny so I'll leave it in

took me 3 reads to spot it

[jimmalenko]

EDIT:

I just noticed a spelling mistake, but it reads hilariously funny so I'll leave it in

took me 3 reads to spot it

...but by god it's funny in the context, ain't it ?

[Faustus]

I caught it. I just tried to be nice.

BTW our shifts change constantly. Thats why its the first time I've started at 9pm and thus became aware of the issue after a while.

For all I know a supervisor will declare shift bid toay and my shift will change sunday night.

[MackemX]

EDIT:

I just noticed a spelling mistake, but it reads hilariously funny so I'll leave it in

took me 3 reads to spot it

...but by god it's funny in the context, ain't it ?

coming from you, ......................no :P

[jimmalenko]

coming from you, ......................no :P

Everybody's a freaking comedian today

[offline]

penalties for commencement of shits during the applicable time periods.

Sounds like the new Australian IR laws

[MackemX]

coming from you, ......................no :P

Everybody's a freaking comedian today

I'm always a comedian :P . It's days when people are miserable old gits they just don't get the humour. At least some have their young and funny heads on at the moment

[jimmalenko]

penalties for commencement of shits during the applicable time periods.

Sounds like the new Australian IR laws

Yes ....... yes it does.


... but when you've got a turtle's head poking out, what's a man to do ?