[cotjockey]

The hospital I work at recently gave everyone in the hospital a raise. When I opened my pay slip today, I was surprised to see that I was getting a raise from $13.36 to 13.65. I've been making $13.76 for over a year! I called the error to the attention of the payroll department and was told that I should have only been making the $13.36. They also told me that I will have to pay back the extra 40¢ an hour they've been giving me. I have a copy of my last raise slip that says I was to get a raise from $11.76 to $13.76...$2.00 was the average amount of the last raise they gave...

So now, instead of a raise, I am technically taking a CUT in pay and they are going to take $16 a week out of my checks for the next 18 months!

I am mad enough to quit right now...sigh...

Can they do that? I have proof that I was supposed to me making the $13.76...I would have questioned it 18 months ago if I'd thought there was an error!

[Cynthiann]

Sorry to hear that. I would be furious, too, and start looking for a job else where.

Hope you get it all straightened out.

[Katnip]

I'd be on the phone with a lawyer right about now.

[sjoe]

What does your union have to say about this? Don't have one? Maybe it's time to start one.

Paying an attorney would not be worth the relatively small amount of money you could recover. I'd check with your state board of labor and see what your rights are and what to do next.

[ptnurse]

I think maybe all you would really need is to pay a lawyer to write a letter stating that you have proof of pay promised and that you are willing to legally pursue the situation.(Even if you aren't) Usually getting a letter from a lawyer will take care of it. Will you have to pay the lawyer---yes, but it is the price to be paid for making your point, standing your ground and making them eat their words. If I had a choice between having my pay unfairly docked for 18 months or using the same money to pay a lawyer, I would use the money to pay the lawyer. Good luck.

[fourbirds4me]

I would be in touch with your state labor and relations board. If you quit now they will take you whole check.

[Nurse Ratched]

Originally posted by ptnurse
If I had a choice between having my pay unfairly docked for 18 months or using the same money to pay a lawyer, I would use the money to pay the lawyer.

A-freakin'-men to that. Assuming the absence of a union, chase it up the chain of command as far as you can by yourself, and if you keep getting the runaround despite have proof positive in hand, I personally would get that letter written from a lawyer.

The absolute gall of some pencil pushers will never cease to amaze me.

Edited to add: since you aren't getting satisfaction from payroll, try HR. I'm sure someone there has enough knowledge of labor law to know this is a battle they don't want to fight.

[caroladybelle]

Find a local media reporter and sing like a bird.

Especially if the hospital is notorious about griping about the difficulty getting nurses.

[Pete495]

Call your Hospital Supervisory Nurse, the CEO, and arrange meetings with them. Let them know your concerns in a cordial manner. Give them the bit of being a loyal employee and all that. Write them all letters before that expressing your concerns. If that doesn't work, have a lawyer write letters. If that doesn't work, cash in your PTO time, and work some place else. It sounds as if you could be easily paid more somewhere else anyway.

Good Luck!

[jemb]

I agree that somone in HR should be able to straighten it out. Sounds like a payroll department clerical error to me.

You have verification that you were indeed supposed to be making $13.76/hr., so arm yourself with a copies of both prior and recent raise slips (not the originals!), and write a polite and factual note to the head of HR explaining the problem, with cc to the head of the payroll department, asking for help in "resolving the problem". Present the letters in person if possible, at least to HR. Then be persistent -- follow up with a phone call in a few days, and then in another week if nothing has been resolved. If they say they can't help, ask them who can.

I would be upset, too. But my guess is that it's just somone's honest mistake, so don't lose your cool yet. And don't go to the labor board or hire a lawyer unless you get no results from attempts to resolve it amicably.

I would also suggest that you resolve the problem before you leave the facility in a fit of fury. If it is on their records that you left while you owed them money (even if their records are wrong), they can pursue collection as if it were a debt. They might also say you are not eligible for rehire, which would not look good on your record.