Getting overpaid. Should I tell payroll?

Published

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 ER/Trauma.

Papa always told me: "Remember son, in this world and any other, what you learn is far more important than what you earn."

Glad you did the right thing and 'learned the right lesson'.

cheers,

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I can't believe that you have to ask this question. Be honest. You have a reputation to uphold as a nurse. Part of this reputation is honesty. God has nothing to do with this.

Fuzzy

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Consider this. I found a paycheck from a few years ago. Tried to cash it and the bank refused it. Called the former employer, was told they probably couldn't fix it. But they told me to return the check. It has been more than a month and the employer has not made good. See it from the employer's standpoint? They owe me wages but don't feel they need to pay me, even though I said I would go to the Labor Board.

I would have a talk with them to clear this up. Hopefully, you will find out that they decided your services are worth more in wages. Have a happy summer.

I'm with the employer on this one. Paychecks are usually finite instruments, meaning you have a certain amount of time (typically very reasonable) to cash/deposit the check. But for what ever reason you didn't cash it, nor bring the "lost" check to their attention years ago as deemed reasonable. The fact that your former employer paid you is evident in the check that you're holding in your hand. You not cashing it is on you.

From the info given, the employer was not only well within the bounds of the law, but reasonable as well.

If such is the case, the labor board is powerless.

I (like most reasonable adults) think the OP should bring the possible over payments to the attention of the appropriate office. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm with the employer on this one. Paychecks are usually finite instruments, meaning you have a certain amount of time (typically very reasonable) to cash/deposit the check. But for what ever reason you didn't cash it, nor bring the "lost" check to their attention years ago as deemed reasonable. The fact that your former employer paid you is evident in the check that you're holding in your hand. You not cashing it is on you.

Employers do not have the right to keep unclaimed employee wages. Under each state's escheat laws, employers have to turn over unclaimed wages (such as cases where employees have failed to cash paychecks) to the state after a specified period of time. If that time period has not elapsed, and the company still has possession of the employees money, they have to write the employee a new check to replace the original one, whether the employee lost it, let it expire, fed it to their dog, or set it on fire. The employer MAY be able to deduct any fees that they incur as a result (such as for stop payment in the case of a lost check). If the employer has already turned the unclaimed wages over under escheat laws, then I believe there is a process by which the employee can collect that money from the state.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

They are probably not taking out taxes. That will bite you in the end! Either way, go talk to them ASAP!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Renal; NICU.

I can't believe you even have to ask!!!:confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in cardiology/oncology/MICU.
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?!

Student nurse for summercamp? What kinda position is this? Are you working with a Registered Nurse? You could ask that person about their paycheck. Either way like has already been said, it is pretty obvious what should be done. I like to think the comment about God was more of a joke than anything else. I will say that it is interesting the things people will try to use to justify what they know in their hearts is already wrong. It is vital to develop morals and ethical responsibility now as a student nurse. Decisions WILL be made as a nurse that will test your strength in these areas so please do not start off by compromising what is right. :twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac surgery ICU.

Twice in my 40 years'career I was overpaid, and twice I reported it to payroll as soon as I saw my pay check. If I hadn't, they'd either think I was too stupid to understand the pay slip, or dishonest enough not to report it.

I didn't was to seem neither one nor the other to anyone.

And of course they found out about the extra money in head office after I had reported it.

Mind you, it wasn't just a few Shekels, once they added a zero to the figure so I got 10000 instead of 1000 Shekels, and the other time they put the decimal point in the wrong place, which had the same effect.

Being honest is always the best policy.:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Honesty, integrity, and ethics are a bedrock of the nursing profession. You must advise them. If you do not, it WILL come back to bite you later. My God would want me to be up front about it. Someone may have made an honest mistake and will be glad you pointed it out to them, or maybe it is correct and you misunderstood. It is not worth it to jeopardize your criedibility for a few extra bucks. I'll bet working at a camp is fun. Just my thoughts on the topic. Do what you think is right.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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.

Excuses. No one cares that you have debts and want to party. They do care if you have any sense of ethics. The fact that you're still making excuses for why you considered taking the money and run does not exactly look good.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone...

Let it go people.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Yep, they always catch up with you eventually and demand the money back. What brats!:lol2:

So, what else have you done wrong lately - we want to give you more advice!:D:D:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion