Getting overpaid. Should I tell payroll?

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Hey everyone. I am a student nurse for the summer at a summer camp, and just received my first paycheck. It seems like they are significantly overpaying me each week from our initial agreement. On one hand, I feel like I should tell payroll because they are probably going to realize their mistake eventually and be disappointed that I wasn't up front about it when the first paycheck came. On the other hand, I'm thinking maybe God just wants me to have some extra fun this summer, and of course I could put the money to good use! What should i do?!

Specializes in Addiction, Psych, Geri, Hospice, MedSurg.

If you don't tell them, when they realize their mistake, they WILL DOCK YOUR PAY... then what. You are left with money that wasn't' yours that you have already spent.

Who knows, maybe there was mis-communication and you are getting paid what you are supposed to...

TELL THEM! You'll be sorry in the long run if you don't.

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Specializes in Addiction, Psych, Geri, Hospice, MedSurg.
I should have been getting 500 per week. The check was for 800. Pretty significant...

To the nice people (like me!) who care and understand, I told the secretary I was overpaid and she fixed the error in the computer, and sadly will be taking the difference out of my next paycheck. But she told me that I was nice and thanked me for being honest! :nurse: Thank you for the advice!

To the people who are asking why I am even asking this question, please keep in mind that I am an indebted college student who enjoys going out with friends, would love to have his own bachelor pad and move out of mom's house, and also would love to go on a roadtrip at the end of this summer. Nothing special, just normal human things. I wanted some advice, so I went to an online forum for nurses, and am very satisfied with the results.

Good for you... Kind of a don't count your chickens before they hatch situation. Eventually it would have caught up. At least it is only a little on one pay check, instead of a few months, and then you have school tuition, bills, and not indebtedness to an employer who may never give you a recommendation!

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Thank you voices of reason. I am going to inform the secretary on the way out today. But despite all the conscience cleanliness this action brings, it is still going to sting.

Although it will suck imagine how much it would suck for someone to lose their job. If you don't say anything and the payroll person made an error that is eventually discovered, they might lose their job for the error since it cost the company money. You saying something can fix and correct the error and possibly they get talked to or something but nothing more. Everyone makes mistakes, a mistake like this might cost someone their job. That is where my mind goes. I would hate to see someone lose their job for a mistake that I noticed but didn't say anything.

Doing the wrong thing usually tends to come back and bite people in the rear end. You are doing the right thing.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

Haven't you ever heard of the 7 deadly sins? Careful, God might be testing you instead...

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Haven't you ever heard of the 7 deadly sins? Careful, God might be testing you instead...

Oh how good Brad Pitt looked in that movie. Should be sin #8 to look that good. Perfect image before bed time. lol

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.
Oh how good Brad Pitt looked in that movie. Should be sin #8 to look that good. Perfect image before bed time. lol

Amen sista :)

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

If you would call them because they paid you too little, you should call them when they pay you too much. Why do you think God would want you to "have fun" on money that isn't yours? If this hadn't happened, do you think God would want you to go stick up the Stop N Rob in order to have money to "have fun" on?

Whatever happened to morality in this country?

ETA: I see that you told them. Good for you. However, I also see that they are going to dock your next paycheck, which tells me you went ahead and SPENT THE FRIGGING MONEY, knowing it wasn't yours. Man alive.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Bortaz, accounting departments prefer to dock the following paycheck or paychecks rather than having the person bring the excess money back in. It's easier in the paperwork and recordkeeping that way...

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What the heck does God have to do with it. Oh please.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

To the people who are asking why I am even asking this question, please keep in mind that I am an indebted college student who enjoys going out with friends, would love to have his own bachelor pad and move out of mom's house, and also would love to go on a roadtrip at the end of this summer. Nothing special, just normal human things. I wanted some advice, so I went to an online forum for nurses, and am very satisfied with the results.

All in good time, honey. You will get out of your mom's house and you will go on that roadtrip. I think you were placed in a predicament that absolutely tested your ethical mindset. You chose to do the right thing, and I think this experience will hopefully set a precedent for your sense of integrity. I think it was brave of you to even post this. I have a sneaking suspicion that you knew the answer before you hit the first key on your PC.

There is nothing wrong with seeking validation. You got some great responses here. Work your tail end off this summer and save your money (do you have a budget to work from?) as much as you can. Set a budgetary goal for yourself so that you can go on your road trip and not worry about every single dollar that you spend since you budgeted for it. Be good to yourself and have fun on your trip :)

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Glad to hear you did the right thing.

Just a thought here, but I would like to think your conscience would have bothered you on your road trip. The money you spent would have not been yours. Nobody is entitled to fun if it's stolen money.

You are living at home and you won't be out on the street due to this garnishment, so that is a good thing.

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Once I got a mileage check for $700 that should have been $300. Ooh how sweet it would have been. But I took it to payroll and they were very grateful. Eventually an error is found and you have to pay it back.

I agree though that it may be because they are not taking taxes out- that does happen with many employers now and you have to take them out yourself. Or, are you sure about the quoted amount? Was it per hour or day? Are they paying you as a nurse which you are not yet? If that is the case then you had better fix it quick!

OOPS, just saw that you took it back. Good thing. Hey, it is human nature to want to believe that a surprise windfall could be a little gift for us. You asked, and you hesitated so that means you have guilt. You wrestled with the devil and you won. Good for you! You did the right thing. All others should back off because if you were really dishonest you would not have asked, you would have pretended nothing was off, hoping that they would never notice...

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