How to Talk to Your Employer When They Keep Paying You Late

There's nothing more frustrating than dealing with an employer who refuses to pay you on time. While you may assume that your best course of action is to sue the company you work for keep in mind that legal action can be extremely costly. Not only that, but it can also be time-consuming. Before you attempt to settle the matter in court you should first attempt to speak with your manager privately. In the best-case scenario, these incidents may be the result of a simple error made by the payroll department. Here are a few tips for talking to an employer who keeps paying you late.

1. Time It Wisely

If you want to get the best response from your manager, then it's important that you consider your timing when approaching them about your late paychecks. This can be the difference between your boss handling the matter thoroughly or rushing you through your explanation and becoming somewhat combative. If your manager has recently suffered a major setback then there's always a chance that they could take their stress out on you. So be mindful of the time in which you choose to speak with them.

Ideally, you should choose a time that they seem to be in a light-hearted mood. One of the best times to speak with your boss maybe after lunch. It may be when they seem very chatty. Perhaps they've just shared a joke or bantered with you. Try not to approach them just before lunch or at the end of the day when it's almost time for everyone to go home.

Also, you should do your best to avoid discussing their error in front of their staff members. No one likes to be corrected in front of a crowd. So don't bring this up during a meeting. Try to discuss the matter when your boss is alone.

2. Don’t Beat Around the Bush

It's no secret, it can sometimes be stressful to approach your boss about a problem. This is especially the case if their presence is particularly intimidating. However, it's extremely important that you avoid beating around the bush when discussing late payroll. Instead of building up to your concern with small talk or leaving your boss on a cliff-hanger, you should immediately dive into the topic and let them know about your missed paycheck.

Have the most important details written out such as the date of the missed paycheck and how many times this has occurred. Make sure that you only present the facts and avoid offering an opinion. By getting right to the point and only offering facts, your boss will be able to offer a quicker solution for the late payroll problem. Also, this will help you to avoid conflict.

3. Be Professional

Sure, it's extremely frustrating when you're not paid on time. This is especially the case if you have past due bills that are piling up. However, you should avoid becoming emotional when conveying your problem to your employer. If you become too upset, it could lead to a significant amount of conflict and may result in termination or you may quit prematurely.

Before speaking with your boss, make sure that you take the time to calm yourself down. Do your best to get rid of any anger and try to assume that your boss actually wants to help you and will respond positively to your request. If you didn't get paid on time, it's important that you keep a cool head so that you can handle the situation logically and professionally.

4. Don’t Interrupt

When speaking with your employer about your late paycheck, make sure that you listen while they speak. It may be tempting to interrupt them, especially if they don't seem to understand your problem or are giving you an answer that you didn't expect, but it's best not to interrupt. This way, you can avoid turning the conversation into a heated argument. Also, by listening carefully, you may learn something that you weren't initially aware of. So be patient.

5. Follow Instructions

So, you've told your employer, "You paid me late." Now that they understand your problem, it's up to you to follow through with their requests and suggestions. This means that you need to be receptive to their solutions. They

may ask you to speak with their secretary so that she can pass the information on to payroll. They may tell you to contact the payroll department directly.

The key is to follow their instructions to find out if they actually work. Give them a chance to correct the situation without trying to use your own judgment. There's a good chance that you may receive your paycheck within the same day.

6. Follow the Chain of Command

It may seem as if your boss doesn't have the power or authority to ensure that you get your paycheck. However, it's still important that you follow the chain of command and avoid going over their head when handling this situation. This is particularly the case if you work for a company that's multi-layered.

First, speak directly to your manager. If you've followed his or her instructions but aren't getting anywhere, you may then approach that individual's supervisor and let them know that they paid me late. The benefit of following the chain of command is that it shows everyone involved that you respect authority. It also shows that if they don't take care of the situation that it will likely escalate to someone above them.

7. Don’t Wait

If you didn't get paid, one of the most important things to do is to handle it right away. There are a lot of problems that grow into something bigger than needed simply because people wait too long to address them. If you're having payroll issues, then you need to speak with your boss as soon as possible so that they can offer a solution.

When you put it off or wait for the problem to solve itself you'll only end up more frustrated and stressed out. Never assume that this type of error is made intentionally. Your employer won't know about the issue until you raise the red flag. Ideally, you should let your employer know within the same week that your paycheck is late. Don't allow the late payments to pile up.

Conclusion

Talking to your employer can be somewhat of a challenge. This is particularly the case if you're dealing with problems that involve your paycheck. In these instances, your livelihood is ultimately in your manager’s hands and the solutions that they offer can either make your life easier or very inconvenient. The way in which you approach this individual can make a huge difference. The good news is that if you approach them strategically, then not only can you make sure that your checks are on time in the future, but you can also build a strong professional rapport with them.