Recently I did some temporary work. As agreed with the employer I worked three days in week 1, four days in week 2, and two days in week 3. Turns out that I've been paid for working all 5 days of both weeks 1 and 2 (don't know about the third week yet). So in other words I've been paid for three days work which I didn't do. With the possiblility of being overpaid by three days in week 3 (will find that out soon).
I'm no longer working for them (the temp job finished) but there is a chance of further work in a week or two, depending on several things. Should I tell the employer that I have been overpaid, or should I keep quiet? The company in question is a large multinational geotechnical engineering company. I haven't said anything yet...What would you do?
The amount that I have been overpaid (should it make a difference?) is £111 (about US$160 at a guess) after tax, with the possibility of that amount rising to £222 depending on what happens to week 3's pay.
T1000
T100,
I would tell them. With the possibility of future employment with them I think it would make a wonderful impression if you went to your supervisor and told them about the overpayment.
Basically, not telling them is like stealing.
By the way, sorry about our last game when I took a T/O on you. You didn't have a 'Vacation' status and I sent a reminder... I thought you may have left...if you can forgive me, send over another. 😉
Bryan
Hey there Bryan 🙂
You'd have to get my username correct first before I could possibly even consider another game 😉
The chance of future work is quite slim I would guess and I probably wouldn't take it anyway due to it being in a different city (and hopefully me having something sorted here in Exeter by then anyway). Leaving the future work thang aside, still tell them? That's the way I'm leaning I must admit.....b...b...but £111 (potentially £222) is a lot of money for a poor squirrel lover! Aaargh!
Originally posted by T1000If they had set aside that money for the completion of a specific task, and you completed the task, then I would say you shouldn't give the money back. It would be like you being penalized for working efficiently. If, however, you were performing routine duties (filing, appointment setting, etc.) that, in virtue of their ongoing nature, are suitable for hourly pay, then you should give the money back. I guess the distinction here is in the content of the contract you entered into with the company.
Recently I did some temporary work. As agreed with the employer I worked three days in week 1, four days in week 2, and two days in week 3. Turns out that I've been paid for working all 5 days of both weeks 1 and 2 (don't know about the third week yet). So in other words I've been paid for three days work which I didn't do. With the possiblility of being o ...[text shortened]... e possibility of that amount rising to £222 depending on what happens to week 3's pay.
T1000
Bennett
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Its a temp job, if you are not going back take the money and run!!!
It may be safer just to leave the money in the bank for a while just in case. I am not sure of the legal side but I think if you refuse to pay them back the money they will have to sue you and are they going to bother over a couple of quid - probably not.
Being honest gets you nowhere in this world unfortunately.
Andrew
It'd be really easy to say to do the moral thing & give the money back. I would, but that's in my situation now where cash isn't a problem. But I can remember the days when finding 1 pound in the street was a Godsend because I could get a couple of meals out of it, whereas now I'll spend 300 pounds (of the companys money) to fly to France for a 3 hour meeting.
Yes, morally the money should be payed back. But if you look at the good that the money will do for the company (half a new computer monitor) and the good it can do you then the two aren't equal. I don't think anybody can answer this one for you because noone else knows your situation, how much you do/don't need that money ect. Just got to go with your gut & live with the concequences.
Sorry
Originally posted by belgianfreakI am with Jon on this one🙄
It'd be really easy to say to do the moral thing & give the money back. I would, but that's in my situation now where cash isn't a problem. But I can remember the days when finding 1 pound in the street was a Godsend because I could get a couple of meals out of it, whereas now I'll spend 300 pounds (of the companys money) to fly to France for a 3 ho ...[text shortened]... do/don't need that money ect. Just got to go with your gut & live with the concequences.
Sorry
Originally posted by belgianfreakMy sentiments exactly. what the "right" thing to do is the easy answer...return the money or at least bring it to their attention. Being an employer, there have been perhaps 100 instances of employees telling me when I made a mistake and UNDERPAID them. There have been exactly two times when an employee actually told me I OVERPAID them. I've seen studies that say 85% of employees would steal from their company if they were certain they would get away w/ it.
It'd be really easy to say to do the moral thing & give the money back. I would, but that's in my situation now where cash isn't a problem. But I can remember the days when finding 1 pound in the street was a Godsend because I could get a couple of meals out of it,
Sorry
That being said, however, I think returning the money is bound to make you feel good and that is invaluable. Somebody said that being honest doesn't get you anywhere in this world and that is only partially true. When your honest and do the right thing it makes you feel good about yourself and increases your self worth. Ultimately, that gets you places. My two cents.
For what it's worth...in the summer of 1986 I worked a summer job at a pizza place on the boardwalk at the Jersey shore (at $3.50/hour ) In the course of those 9 weeks...1) I found and returned a wallet with the money (about $200) intact 2) I returned $50 when I was given too much change at an archade and 3) returned hundreds of dollars that I found IN THE GARBAGE at the place I worked because I knew it was thrown there by accident by the owner while she was clearing the cash registers. What did it get me?? I wound up losing my wallet! (which was never returned)
interesting dilemma. just be true to yourself. if i believed that the money was not righfully mine then i would inform them of their mistake. but that is easy for me to say over a hypothetical situation whilst pondering how exactly i am going to pay the electricity bill that arrived this morning..... 😉
I know I sound like a selfish and petty person, but I still say you should take the money and run. The wealthy steal from us constantly. They just do it in a "legal" fashion. Legal, not moral. If the motivation is need, not greed, then "stealing" is actually "self preservation" in my book. If I was well to do and someone stole some money from me, would I care? Hell no! Should I care? I should have given it to them in the first place. I never steal, although I may sometimes take what I need which others are too greedy to permit me to have. 😉