Payroll Supervisor Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What do you do when your supervisor doesn't pay you for time worked in NY State ? A friend of mine has been working crazy hours because of a staff shortage. Last week they submitted their signed time sheet to their supervisor with a lot of OT hours. The supervisor then submitted another time sheet to payroll minus the OT hours, this time sheet was unsigned,(which is against company procedure). When the payroll dept. called the supervisor about the unsigned time sheet, the supervisor said the employee knew all about it when they in fact did not. I say that behavior is criminal. Does anyone have any idea's of how to proceed?

Answer: Contact the department of labor and file a wage claim. It will take time, but the wages will be recovered.

Question: Do you think it would make my supervisor mad if i asked to move to a different department? I currently work in accounting-the only accountant. The job is high in stress and i am miserable. There will be a job opening in payroll soon. i used to do payroll at a previous job, and loved it. I think being able to focus on 1 thing versus 50 million things will lower my stress level and that i would like my job more. If my supervisor doesn't think i am right for that job, will my current position be in jeopardy?

Answer: well, he may be happy that u go, if you are happy with the current job, and u r under stress, which tend to make mistakes, etc. on the other hand, that may be a demotion for you to payroll, or lesser opprtunities career wise in future....but then again, life is too short to worry about money..

Question: My supervisor 'forgot' to send my weeklly timesheet to payroll and now I'm £200 overdrawn. I now have to wait 2 weeks before I get this. Surely this isn't right?

Answer: Send your supervisor a bill for any costs incurred (eg: interest, charges etc.) If you haven't recieved due payment within, say, 14 days, send her/him a letter indicating that if due payment is not recieved within, say, another 14 days, a summons will be issued in the County Court. (Small Claims). That usually does it. But if not, pop into the Court and get three copies of the summons forms. Fill them in as necessary and send one to the 'defendant' (your supervisor), one to the court and keep one yourself. So long as your original bill is true and accurate, and you can establish this, the Court will almost certainly find in your favour. Then you just need to squeeze the money out of the supervisor! They might just cough up, then again, you might have to go back to the Court, clutching your ruling, to obtain any one of a number of different types of Court Orders to enforce it! (Whichever is the most appropriate). Great isn't it - Justice? (You should try being self-employed, it's even worse. One seems constantly to be required to issue interest-free loans in order to keep other people's businesses afloat). Best of luck!

Question: Can you sue your employer and union for continued breach of contract for nonpayment? I have been working for my employer for nearly 10 years. For the past four to five years I have been getting short paychecks. I first consulted with the payroll supervisor and got no resolve. I then consulted with my supervisors and district heads again no resolve. I began talking with my union stewart and still the problem persisted. I have gotten all the way to the president of the union and I have only been discouraged to continue my pursute. My union personal has not helped me to collect records or anything. I put together a booklet detailing what has been going on and copies of the checks in question.

Answer: yes. no contiongencies at all, you can sue them.

Question: Is it legal for a manager to edit time card records? The company at which I work allows for a thirty (30) minute meal break for every 6 hours of work. I typically don't take the entire 30 minutes for meals, so I only punch out for but no less than 20 minutes. During time to submit payroll, my supervisor arbitrarily edits my time card information changing some 20 minute unpaid breaks to 30 minute breaks. In essence, I am not getting paid for 10-40 minutes of work each pay period. However, this is only done to anywhere between 1 and 4 days in a 10 day pay period. The other breaks are left unaltered, so the editing isn't in order to comply with company policy. Is it legal for my manager to arbitrarily edit my time card records without my consent or acknowledgement? Thanks.

Answer: Report it to your shop steward or union rep! If the company does not have a policy that says you have to take a full 30 minutes or that the meal break is automatically 30 minutes then you are being cheated. Ask some of your co-workers if they have noticed the same on their cards. Think about how much money this is costing you over the course of a full year. I'd bet you could buy more than one full tank of gas with what you are being cheated out of. I'd also bet your supervisor gets a yearly bonus for being such an "efficient" manager.

Question: Can an employer take a payroll deduction for employee mistakes? Example: We are shipping an order for a customer and the wrong quantity was shipped. The customer ordered two widgets and we sent one. Our client realizes the mistake and requires us to pay the overnight shipping charges to get the other widget into the hands of their customer. This could cost the company $50 in overnight freight charges. What if we wanted to charge a percentage of the $50 to the employee, the supervisor and the manager?

Answer: This is against the law in most, if not all, states. It's also a really sorry way to run a company.

Question: Supervisor Changes Time Sheets...Legal?? At my place of work, we use timesheets to keep track of the hours worked. At the end of every payroll, my supervisor will go through the timecards, and change the hours sometimes if she believes that I did a bad job one day and I deserve .25 hrs less pay (we go by quarter-hour incriments on our timesheets to keep it simple). I find this out on my paycheck where my hours that I am paid does not match the hours that I added up on my timesheet before I submitted it to my supervisor. Is it legal in the State of wisconsin for your supervisor to change your timecard without informing or notifying the employee of such changes? If it is illegal, which law, act, statute, etc. is it that makes this illegal. Thanks =] PS: my employer is the city.

Answer: Ummm, yeah I would be pissed off....i would contact the GM of your work and tel them about what she is doing. Ask another employee if they notice this too...get enough people she could get fired..you know why she is doing this dont you...managers get bonuses for making quotas for being under budget...if she is doing this to you then she is prolly doing it to others, shaving off time so that it appears that people did not work that long there for they dont have to pay you for that time and it looks like they are still bringing in the money but their payroll is down and looks good therefor she gets a bonus for keeping payroll down...They always think of themselves...deff tell someone.

Question: Supervisor not fair.......how can i use california labor law to save my job? I started with a security company as a security officer and given a site to work. After I started working, I found out that I am making $13.00/hr. where everyone else is making $14.00/hr. I talk to my supervisor and been told that my pay rate will be $14.00 once I passed 90 days. After I passed 90 days, I asked my supervisor for $14.00/hr. and been told that it will be $14.00/hr in my next pay check. But, i did not. It keep on happening for 4 paychecks. After about 6 months of ma job, I am making $1.00/hr less than everyone while working the same job, same duties. I decided to go to the payroll department of the security company. Payroll department informed me that my supervisor should have sent them a letter requesting my $14.00/hr wage right on 91st day of my job. And according to payroll department, my supervisor have not sent anything. But my supervicor kept on saying that he already talk to the office and they will do it. So, Payroll department said that they will talk to my supervisor that why he did not informed them. Next thing I know, 2 days after I discussed this with payroll department, my supervisor called me and informed me that I have been removed from this company because he thinks that I have stole something from the company. I tell him that I did not. But my supervisor is not ready to accept it. Then I asked my supervisor to show me the evidence, like a cctv camera video, a picture, or may be a person who saw me steeling, But my supervisor said that "We do not have any evidence" I am sure there is a law to help me out in this situation. But I am not sure what it is. My supervisor even sent me an email saying that he knows that this is not my fault and wrote in the email that he knows I have not steal anything. But according to him, I have to leave because management thinks I stole something. CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT CAN I DO. (Keeping in mind that I do not have enough money to hire a lawyer)

Answer: You are employed "at-will" which means you can quit or be fired at any time for any legal reason or no reason at all. The employer can fire you for theft or just for suspecting there was a theft and they do not have to provide proof to you. File for unemployment insurance and if the employer did not have cause to fire you (and you meet all the other criteria) you will qualify for UI, which will help while you look for another job. Make sure you keep the e-mail, as you may need it as evidence for the UI. If you feel you were in fired in retaliation for complaining about your pay then you can contact the California department of labor and file a complaint. You do not need a lawyer to file an unemployment claim or file a complaint with the department. I am not implying the employer has done anything wrong and from what facts you have stated I don't think they have BUT By the wording in this question it seems that English is not your first language. If I am correct there is the possibility that this employer has done something wrong and is trying to take advantage of your situation. SO Contact the appropriate state departments and they will assist you if there is reason for them to.

Question: Need help in processing payroll in California. Thank you!? Hello! I'm going to an interview for a position that would involve payroll but I do not have much experience processing payroll before other than backing my supervisor up in a few occassions. If anyone of you lifesavers could offer a general guildlines and some of the "must-knows" in the payroll area I'd greatly appreciate. A list of all possible deductions and the procedure to handle them would be very helpful as well. Oh and also a workflow from the accounting standpoint (what will happen in the various payroll accounts) will be nice. I live in California. Thank you so much my friends!!

Answer: I hope you are kidding.

Question: Should we report on my Supervisor to top heads? I along with other co-workers joined together to get rid of a Supervisor who was breaking all kinds of company rules, and policies, and showing favoritism to his wife and a co-worker. He was also falsfying payroll. I and a couple of co-workers who been there longer train this man, and he wanted to get rid of us, because we stood in his way. All of the workers joined together, and we succeded to get rid of him and the two. A worker who had just started with us was offer the job of Supv., because according to the company they wanted a fresh face to try to run things with no bias. Of course I, along with others were hurt. She made me her Asst.Supv., we was excited about the changes we wanted to make. She couldn't catch on to a lot of things, so I did a lot behind the scenes. Afterwhile she changed towards me, and felt I was a threat. She then hire a lot of her friends, and doing like the last Supv. She became friends with her boss, so we feel blocked. There's only five of us left.

Answer: Either you all form a meeting and talk with her or starting tooting your own horn and try and take her position.

Question: What do you do when you continue getting messages from numerous people that an employer is slandering me? I was terminated from my employer for a payroll issue.I was brought in as a csr promoted to manager and promoted to higher volume area without any training. Numerous questions were still out there with no help from supervisor. I operated a 24 hour store and was down to 3 employees. AFTER working a 21 hour 18 hour 16 hour shift back to back I made a mistake on payroll. Contacted Human Resources no return call. Supervisor was laughing at me and saying your back is up against the wall now huh! So I didn't trust him for him to come in the following week and terminate which was a favor for me!! Well after investigation on issues Human Resources finally called and of course I went to unemployment! I would never go back. But now each employee had to sign a confidentiality admonition and the new manager there is telling numuerous lies and bluntly discussing problems that occured after my termination. She is litterally embaressing me and I am not there to defend my self. What should I do?

Answer: You should be able to lodge a complaint with the wage & hour commission and be able to get unemployment, if you have proof or some sort of documentation you should win the suit! Good luck and NO - I would never go back to that type of hostile enviroment, its hard to find good CSRs so you should be able to find a better job who have people with integrity working there!

Question: How should I address an issue with my unethical supervisor? I work for a before and after school program part time and get in about 30 hours each pay day. Because The kids are on Christmas break, and they're bringing counselors in on a need basis, my hours got cut, which isn't a big deal because everyone needs those hours and I don't mind sharing. It's the holiday's, I get it. The place that I work for has this arrangement where college students can come back at least once every 90 days and work all of the seasonal breaks and still stay on payroll. This is the problem... My supervisor, cut my hours by 90% in order to give an away college student the maximum hours. That means that this pay period I'm only guaranteed 3.5 hours and the away college student gets 56 hours. Because I go to school, this is my only job and I rely on this job to pay the little bills that I have and to pay for school. It's not fair that someone can just come in from college and boot me and others out of our jobs and take our hours. How do I go about telling my supervisor that this is wrong and that I need more hours? This is unethical right? I have to pay for school too! And if anyone has any Colorado Workplace Ethics Laws that you'd like to share, I'd really appreciate it! :) Thanks! Ok! Good to know so far. I have tried talking to my supervisor and she dances around the situation. And when she's not dancing around it, she's avoiding it all together. This isn't fair and she's making me feel as though there's nothing I can do about it at this point. I think that I should go to human resources, but i'm not sure if that's the best move that i can make.

Answer: Familiarize yourself with the downfalls of “at-will� employment. An employer can pretty much run their business however they want including firing whoever they want even without a good cause. A non-unionized workplace has little protection and non-union workers have little say in their terms of employment. Wizjp gives the best advice. All you can do and speak with your supervisor and hope for the best.

Question: How do I get a former employer to pay off my last severance without seeking legal advise? I was laid off my job last year, given 6 months worth of severance (in monthly checks) and when the last check was sent, I did not cash it because the amount was incorrect (it was for the full month of May, and should have been only for 10 days). I informed payroll, and they say they sent a new check, but I never received it (I was in the middle of a move). After informiing payroll this April, and sending the person their a letter with correct addresses and dates, I have yet to receive another check. Today, I forwarded that letter in an E-mail, copying my old supervisor. I now live in Germany, cannot afford legal advise-what should I do now?

Answer: Call or email the Department of labor in the state you came from and inform the employer that you are doing so if you do not recieve the correct check in so many days. I am sure they will find a way to get your correct check to you.

Question: What would you do if your relief was late? You're at work, and your relief is supposed to be in before let's say 2pm, and they're late....what do you do? *If they're 5 minutes late - what do you do? *10 minutes late? *15 minutes late? *30 minutes late? *more than 30 minutes late? *what if they called ahead to let you know they'd be late? *do you tell a supervisor? *do you claim the time on your timesheet or payroll? How do you handle others being late?

Answer: Is it habitual? If it happens once or twice, no biggie, you may need someone to cover for you one day. Now if it is habitual, that is abnother issue that needs to be calimed on your time sheet. Talk to supervisor if you can not stay, then supervisor needs to get coverage or address with employee. If you can stay inform supervisor, she is late agian, I will cover, but I will be claiming time on my timesheet. If you are hourly, you get paid for all time, it is illegal for a company to have you at work and not pay.

Question: I have more stress than I can handle at work and it is effecting my sleep. Any advice on how to cope with it? More work keep adding to my load , I have gone form just doing the payroll to running the HR department. On top of that I also do the IT and am the creditors supervisor. How can I unwind at night so I can sleep. The stress is keeping me awake.

Answer: I, also, have the same problem. Here are some things I've used and that really helped. First, I agree with the exercise, even if it is just walking for 20 min. Expose yourself to a green space for about 10 min. Enjoy that space, the trees, birds, grass whatever. Practice relaxation breathing while you are there. Be organized. Make lists, execute, and follow through. Solicit and accept help from others. The manager doesn't have to do everything. Thank people for helping. Work hard every day and know that you are one person and the work will be there tomorrow. Then, work hard on it tomorrow. If pressured to 'do it all right now' ask for a prioritization of the work. You might now get relief, but it will be a way to verbalize the situation w/o being a complainer. *wink*

Question: I am getting screwed at work concerning my payroll.? Ok, I have been working at Ingles Supermarkets for three years now started as a bagger worked my way to a bookkeeper and now a front end supervisor. I started the front end supervisor job about two months ago. I didnt receive my raise until a month after i complained and told them i wanted retro and the whole nine. I received $85 for a month I called back to the payroll dept and told them it was more than that especially seeing as I had overtime the first 2 week of starting this position. I still havent received it and its been going on another month. OK to top that off I was informed by workers in others districts that the minimum pay went up for my job title in july. I started in September and didnt start at that rate and iam getting paid 2.25 under what im supposed to. How and what would you do to go about getting this crap fixed. Ive talked to my store manager about the retro but he doesnt know that i know th pay for my job is higher and dont know how to approach him. I guess I wasn't very clear in what I have said. I have all my paperwork stubs etc. and I have a Paper that shows what each Job Title is supposed to make. As far as taxes getting taken for retro I know that but for a month worth of work with 3 of those weeks being overtime and with the pay raise they have given me which was 2.25 more I believe that would add up to much more than 85 dollars I have added it up myself it is much more. As far as asking my boss I have he told me he was trying but he had to contact his other boss but everytime i ask if he ahs done anything he says he hasnt talked to him. I havent waited two months till i said something I began saying something the very next check when there was no raise. According to the sheet i have me bumping up from a bookkeeper to a manager would have been a 4.25 increase instead I have only gotten 2.25

Answer: Are you union? You need to call a higher authority to get this resolved as soon as possible.