Worker making $15 an hour gets doubly overpaid, earning $30 per hour: 'What would you guys do?'

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Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Feb 24, 2024 12:00 PM EST

If you were getting paid for a job you quit months ago, would you tell anybody? Everyone likes to think of themselves as a Frank Abagnale Jr.-type figure who can scam their way out of anything without getting caught for years and years, but I'm not so sure about that. Most of us are not so slick, and most payroll employees are not so incompetent to not notice such a discrepancy. The sad reality is that when you accidentally get overpaid, you usually do have to pay it back, whether you noticed the extra cash or not. 

One worker recently found himself in this exact predicament. He's a 25-year-old college student working at a franchised store. While he thought he was only making $15 an hour, his paystubs were revealing something much more prosperous. He took to Reddit to figure out whether he should come clean or keep it a secret

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  • 01
    r/povertyfinance u/tislewcifer 2d Join Moral Dilemma: I'm getting paid double than what I'm supposed to Misc Advice Need some advice. I hope this is the right sub for a question like this
    via u/tislewcifer
  • 02
    I'm 25, currently in college full-time, and I get paid $15 at a franchise store. Because I go to school full- time, my hours around 57-60 so typically I know what I'm going to get by the pay period. However my last pay period, I got around $1200. I was surprised but I thought it was a mistake that my boss did and surely this wouldn't happen again. Then this pay period I get $1400. Today I looked at my salary and I am indeed getting $30 an hour!!!
    via u/tislewcifer
  • 03
    First off, this is incredible for me. That's more than I have ever been paid up until now. I asked a couple of friends, my mom, and girlfriend as to what they would do and they say just accept the blessing and don't say anything. A part of me wants to do that. But like I said, it's a franchise. I do like my boss, he's a good guy. And I feel like he would find out sooner or later as I'm sure this doesn't look right in his budget. This money would escalate everything, I could finally get my own ca
    via u/tislewcifer
  • 04
    SmashyMcSmashy • 2d This happened to me with one paycheck, I was supposed to get 1200 and got 1800. I texted my boss and told her about it, asking how to give it back. She just said don't worry about it and enjoy the accidental windfall. I wish that would happen again lol. But yeah you have to tell your boss. Reply ... 41.8k
    via u/SmashyMcSmashy
  • 05
    reptarcannabis • 2d I had a coworker start working at the dispensary I was growing at. His first paycheck was a year salary. Two weeks later his next paycheck was another year salary. We never saw him or his brother again. 4247 ...
    via u/reptarcannabis
  • 06
    Polyifia • 2d Had a friend keep getting paid after quitting a job. She didn't say anything and kept the money. She also started spending it like crazy. They found out and she had to pay it all back. I'm sure this would be similar. ... Reply 530
    via u/Polyifia
  • 07
    shweaty-palmz • 2d They fired the HR girl at my partners old company when covid first hit. He then quit his job and we relocated across the state. They never took him off the insurance and the company paid out 1k a month insurance for 2 more years. I never said anything lol. 4174 ↓
    via u/shweaty-palmz
  • 08
    macaroniartblog • 2d Anyone who told you to just keep mum on this is setting you up for a shitshow. You will likely have to pay the money back. I would suggest taking the overpayments and setting them aside. Keep what would be your original paycheck. Notify your manager.
    via u/macaroniartblog
  • 09
    sequoiachieftain. 2d Definitely keep it in a high yield savings account. They can take the principal back, but you get to keep the interest. 4 71 ↓
    via u/sequoiachieftain
  • 10
    FieldsOfLavender • 2d When they find out, you WILL have to pay it back. Reply 4 517 + ...
    via u/FieldsOfLavender
  • 11
    tislewcifer OP ● 2d Thats what my dad said. He was the only one to put it in that perspective. I guess I'm telling the truth today : ... 346
    via u/tislewcifer
  • 12
    LadySiren 2d Your dad is right. If you're in the U.S., the Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to claw back the overpayment. There are some state protections in place but you'll likely lose most or all of the overpayment. Here's an article for you: https:// www.completepayrollsolutions.com/blog/ overpaying-employees ... 137
    via u/LadySiren
  • 13
    facinationstreet • 2d If you don't have enough money to pay back the mistake when it is discovered and/or if you would not be able to afford not getting paid as a way to return the money, you cannot just let this go. Reply 471 ↓ ...
    via u/facinationstreet
  • 14
    World IsYoursMuhfucka 2d ● They will find out, payroll undergoes auditing quite a bit. It'll look rough when they discover you didn't disclose it either. Best to save face and tell them there was an error in payroll. ... Reply 46
    via u/WorldIsYoursMuhfucka
  • 15
    UPDATE: I told him about it and he said it was a bonus!!! :D he thanked me for my honesty anyway. This was definitely the right way
    via u/tislewcifer

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