‘The system makes no sense’: New hire refuses to accept company's payroll system, accusing manager of withholding his pay

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
May 2, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

It can be challenging to comprehend how someone can start working for a company and not get paid for their workdays for a while after they start the job. This means that while they drive to work every day, they have to spend money on gas and transportation, buy food, and still manage their everyday life, and they do it without yet seeing a penny from the company.

Of course, it does not happen for every company, but it does happen in the company from this Reddit story. A manager turned to Reddit after a conversation with a new hire who couldn't seem to understand the company's payment system. The manager tried to explain to both the new hire and Reddit about the system but was met with angry responses accusing the company of purposely withholding employees' paychecks.

Scroll down to read the full tale. After you are done, click here for a story of a home seller who had to deal with a buyer who moved into a house before actually buying it.

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  • 01
    COMPANY INC "Where is my money?"
    via Canva
  • 02
    Where Is My 2nd Check?
    via u/grazingmeadow
  • 03
    Today a relatively new hire, after receiving his very 1st check, met with me to inquire about where his '2nd Check' was.
    via u/grazingmeadow
  • 04
    For context, our pay periods are 1-15, payable on the 25th, followed by the 16-end of month, payable on the 10th of the month. Said employee's First Day with us was April 1. Thus, first paycheck will arrive on the 25th.
    via u/grazingmeadow
  • 05
    While I had described this to him at Orientation, (on the 1st) again on the 10th, and yet again on the 16th, something wasn't making sense for him. I pulled out a large blotter style calendar to tell the story, visually, of the time line.
    via u/grazingmeadow
  • 06
    He kept sarcastically agreeing stating, "Like..okay?! Everywhere else I've worked I got paid twice a month." I went through it 4 times, really wanting him to leave with full understanding. I opened up his
    via u/grazingmeadow
  • 07
    timecard on ADP to display the days included in each paycheck. He kept saying, "Is this because I'm new??" As in 'are you punishing me/holding back a check because I'm new?'
    via u/grazingmeadow
  • 08
    It just absolutely blew my mind after the fact. Has anyone else had an employee they had to break this down for? What verbiage initiated the breakthrough? Edit: US in California
    via u/grazingmeadow
  • 09
    AshDenver 5 days ago • He's dense but also semi- monthly paypayroll is the absolute worst option there could possibly be.
    via u/AshDenver
  • 10
    • Crazy_by_Design · 5 days ago I had to read that 3 times. It's pretty convoluted. There are far more simple ways to math payroll. 49 Reply Share friedperson 4 days ago "You always get paid ten days after the pay period ends."
    via u/Crazy_by_Design, u/friedperson
  • 11
    tallman11282 - 5 days ago I can definitely understand the confusion, every job I've ever had paid the Thursday or Friday after the pay period ends. I've never heard of a job that pays 10 days after the pay period like that.
    via u/tallman11282
  • 12
    Striking_Computer834 · 5 days ago It's probably the maximum legal time in that state and the company wants to keep those funds on the books and earning interest as long as legally possible.
    via u/Striking_Computer834
  • 13
    • The_AmyrlinSeat 5 days ago He's confused because this is the most ridiculous way to pay people. It makes NO sense. Truthfully, my mind is blown that anyone would do this. What purpose does this serve??
    via u/The_AmyrlinSeat
  • 14
    CuriousPenguinSocks 5 days ago If you need to map out in a diagram your payroll structure, that needs to be looked at big time. Of course he is confused lol.
    via u/CuriousPenguinSocks
  • 15
    whoops53. 5 days ago He may have problems processing information (adhd for example gives this vibe, and also a strong sense of personal injustice might account for his cheeky response). How you deal
    via u/whoops53
  • 16
    with this is up to you, obviously, but I would try once more - even saying something "You will be paid this amount on x day, and this amount on x day later in the month. If this doesn't happen, come see me"
    via u/whoops53
  • 17
    No_Pianist_3006 · 5 days ago What surprises me is that the employer takes 10 DAYS to pay. an employee. That's 10 days each pay period during which the company has use of amounts owed to their employees. That's 240 days each year.
    via u/No_Pianist_3006
  • 18
    Wow! It's like they have a one- person payroll clerk doing everything manually. Wait. Depending on the number of employees, the clerk may take less than 10 days per pay period, from verifying timesheets to mailing their paycheques to employees.
    via u/No_Pianist_3006
  • 19
    grazingmeadow OP 4 days ago Large nationwide company with about 12 properties. Our area consists of probably 400 employees. Payroll Dept. for entire company consists of 3 people. It makes me wonder if the 10 days assists in staggering processing the payroll for each of the properties.
    via u/grazingmeadow
  • 20
    Sistersoldia 5 days ago Federal government was always 2-week pay periods for me and my wife. But they PAID you the next week after that - usually hit my account by that Thursday after the pay period ended. 10 days to wait I'd be getting impatient too.
    via u/Sistersoldia
  • 21
    EmblemBlue · 5 days ago Doesn't matter what kind of pay schedule you have, there's people who won't understand it. It's just one of those things - like taxes and insurance. Had to explain to someone today that they don't get paid for days that they don't work and choose not to take PTO for. It's literally called Unpaid Time in the system.
    via u/EmblemBlue
  • 22
    Anomynous___. 4 days ago Edit: US in California Figured it out 2√ Reply Share • grazingmeadow OP 4 days ago Thanks! I didn't know this would be so polarizing
    via u/Anomynous___
  • 23
    Babyz007 4 days ago The 10 day hold is simply so the company can hold the money. It's not needed. Most companies eliminated this long ago
    via u/Babyz007

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salary boss workplace-stories employee manager job tales-from-the-workplace reddit story workplace paycheck payment Reddit company funny
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