Is my employer screwing me here?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in CVICU.

Hello everyone,

I have worked at the same facility since August of last year in the capacity of a tech (pca III) while in school. I recently became licensed as an RN and went straight to work in that same facility.

Last pay period, I worked 1 week as a tech, had the weekend off, then came back on Monday as an RN and did my 40. When I got my check, ALL of it was at the tech rate. Went to HR for a resolution, was told that corporate needs to approve my new wage and it may take up to 3 pay periods (6wks.).

Now here's the funny part--the recruiter was all excited when she told me this--*BUT* you'll get it all (what they owe me--hours worked x diff between old and new wage) in a LUMP SUM!

Oh sure lady, that may sound real nice to every other 22 year old guy getting a nice raise, but NO. I am going to get SLAYED on the taxes accrued on that check.

I feel like my wage should have been changed and begun accruing at hour ONE of my work as an RN and should have been so reflected on my last check.

What to do? Thinking about labor board, corporate compliance, etc. I am ****** and I would hate to have to go bench press everyone on mahogany row to get my money. Trying to keep my cool and my job.

TS :devil:

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I was put off when given a raise by an employer. Week after week went by and no raise. Week after week again, after I said something to them, again. When they finally made the change there was no backpay and no mention of backpay. Too bad for me, because they did not want to give me the raise to begin with. I would approach HR again and tell them about your concerns.

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

There's no way it should take that long to be approved. I would ask to speak to her manager. When I transitioned to RN from CNA I had to wait until the new pay period started, I think like 3 weeks. When I did start in my new role I received the correct pay though. They wouldn't even let me start orienting until then. I would definitely question this.

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Specializes in CVICU.

I am so mad, I can't even go in there and talk to them right now.

What's more, is that I work in the ICU. I have vents w/ drips for a PCAIII rate. Hello, have I died and gone to Mexico? Kind of funny, but really not.

Still steamin'

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That is totally bogus. IF what she says is true, it means that your whole position as an RN has not been allocated/approved. You very well may get reimbursed, but... I'd want to know that my position is firmly RN, because I am doing the work of one. If I 'effed up bad, could someone say I was a "tech" at that time as far as the hospital was concerned?! I don't like where that might go.

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I would be raising hell and would refuse to work another shift until my money was fixed. I've been there done that. Heads rolled when I refused to to work a scheduled shift and had not been given by back pay. Had my check within a matter of minutes!

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If they do the right thing and go retro with your pay increase to hour one, just make certain you change your withholding allowances on your w-2 for the pay period only so they don't ding you with huge taxes. Change it back the following pay period for a more realistic deduction. I made that mistake when I gave notice on a job that I had a huge amt. of aquired personal time that I was cashing out. They paid me after the first of the year; therefore, the government got to hold on to that money for a really long time.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

As a manager in the past, I have had this type of payroll problem to deal with when I had an employee transfer to an upgrade in position. You don't say, but I assume that you get paid every two weeks. What should have happened is that on the check where you were still in the lower pay grade you should have been paid in that lower pay grade for that pay period with the difference made up in a supplemental check because payroll cannot make a pay grade salary change in the middle of a pay cycle. But, after that pay cycle, the correction should have been made. It appears that there was a gross delay in the processing of your paper work. Either your manager was late getting the paper work to HR or HR was late getting it to payroll. I would suggest that you make an appointment with someone in HR to sit down and find out exactly what the problem is. Do not try to resolve this issue over the phone. Face to face is always a better option. Perhaps your manager would be willing to assist you as well.

When I used to deal with this issue I did a couple of things to try to assure that this type of screw up did not happen. 1. The paper work must go into HR at least a month before the change is to be made. 2. You never make a change in someones work status in the middle of a pay period. Changes in work status should be made to go into effect at the beginning of the new pay period.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. Your taxes wouldn't be any different than if you started the higher rate immediately. Of course your taxes will look big getting a lump sum rather than nickeled and dimed each pay period, but in the end, the amount will be the same based on your withholding and the new and improved higher rate of pay. I'd be looking forward to that pro-rated back pay in a lump.

In the end, when you file your return by April 15th, there will be no difference in tax liability either way. I wouldn't raise a fuss. I wouldn't even be the least bit upset.. Now, if what they told me, "up to 3 pay periods" didn't happen.. then I may get concerned about it, but until then.. no biggie for me. :twocents:

And.. congrats on graduating and becoming an RN.. :)

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Wezzie is correct.

your tax liability is what it is, they won't take anymore than they would have otherwise.

However, if they fail to deliver on their commitment of "up to 3 pay periods" (which by the way sounds like someone dropped the ball on that one) then you can take a more aggressive approach.

congrats and best of luck to you :)

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Specializes in CVICU.
Wezzie is correct.

your tax liability is what it is, they won't take anymore than they would have otherwise.

However, if they fail to deliver on their commitment of "up to 3 pay periods" (which by the way sounds like someone dropped the ball on that one) then you can take a more aggressive approach.

congrats and best of luck to you :)

Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. Your taxes wouldn't be any different than if you started the higher rate immediately. Of course your taxes will look big getting a lump sum rather than nickeled and dimed each pay period, but in the end, the amount will be the same based on your withholding and the new and improved higher rate of pay. I'd be looking forward to that pro-rated back pay in a lump.

In the end, when you file your return by April 15th, there will be no difference in tax liability either way. I wouldn't raise a fuss. I wouldn't even be the least bit upset.. Now, if what they told me, "up to 3 pay periods" didn't happen.. then I may get concerned about it, but until then.. no biggie for me. :twocents:

And.. congrats on graduating and becoming an RN.. :)

Are you two sure of this? I'm new at everything still--I'm 22. Tax withholding on a lump sum isn't going to be > than the taxes on a few, smaller checks?

Wezzie, thanks :) I'm proud to be a part of the field. :up:

Everyone who has chimed in, thanks a lot. You guys are great.

TS

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Sternsey,

You do whatever you are comfortable with. My experience with retro paychecks are sometimes ran separately for accounting purposes and accounting sometimes uses a special withholding chart for those special payrolls which often results in a higher amount taken out for taxes, thus affecting your net or take home pay for that pay period. If you are due a refund, you don't see this money again to the end of the year. I see this happen often when we negotiate a new union contract. Your tax liability will be the same at the end of the year because of your overall earnings for the year. Some folks don't want to use the government's federal withholding system as an interest free savings account and wish for a larger take home paycheck each payperiod or when they anticipate a retro paycheck. With this being said please consult with your payrol specialist, tax accountant or HR department for information on what best suits your situaiton.

BTW, congratulations in your new position and I wish you the best of luck in your transition. I know how hard you worked to get where you are.

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