'They are requiring that I pay them back about $4500': Former boss forgot to stop paying employee, HR requires ex-employee to pay them back

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Oct 13, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

Former employers always have a fun way of popping back into your life. In this case, it began as a happy accident and ultimately turned into a frustrating nuisance. 

This Redditor had notified his former employers that he was still getting paid well after his departure from the company. The boss apologized and said he would inform human resources, and the payments would stop moving forward. Obviously, this was a noble act on the part of the original poster (OP), who could have just stayed silent and not said anything at all. However, when HR did get involved, they took things a step further and required that the formal employee pay the company back in full despite the fact that this was their error. Personally, we're of the opinion that the blame for company oversights belongs to no one else besides the company itself.

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from folks in the comments section. For more, check out this post about a job candidate who went "full Karen" on a hiring manager.

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  • 01
    "Former employer forgot to stop paying me"
    via Hunters Race

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Former employer forgot to stop paying me, now they want ME to pay back take home and taxes, SS, etc.
    via mark-spline
  • 03
    Hello! My former employer forgot to notify HR of my leaving. The next pay period I recieved a direct deposit from them. I reached out
    via mark-spline
  • 04
    to my former supervisor and let them know. Said it would be taken care of and I'll be notified if they need anything. Two weeks later, didn't hear anything,
    via mark-spline
  • 05
    received another deposit. I then notified my supervisor's supervisor. They apologized and said they'd get a hold of HR.
    via mark-spline
  • 06
    Almost two weeks later, HR sent me an email and informed me they were just notified of my leaving. My total take home was about $3000, but they are requiring that I pay them back about $4500! That's my total of both paychecks before SS, taxes, 401k, etc.
    via mark-spline
  • 07
    They took blame for this, but that's not even remotely fair to have to pay back those taxes and everything! So I have to be out $1500 because THEY scr up? Is that legal?? And of top of it
    via mark-spline
  • 08
    all, those taxes will still be there and count against me at tax time! Shouldn't then be required to petition the government for those funds back??
    via mark-spline
  • 09
    This is in Indiana if that makes a difference. Should I get a lawyer for this? Is there anyone I can talk too??
    via mark-spline
  • 10
    Top-Book9712 • 16h ago It needs to be done through the payroll software. They're trying to do it the 'easy way' (aka wrong way) but don't realize there will be downstream ramifications.
    via mark-spline
  • 11
    Upon receipt of proof of reversal of the paycheck in the payroll software, you will be willing to pay back the amount of the direct deposit. That being said,
    via mark-spline
  • 12
    most software allows them to do this electronically, so it's doubtful you will even need to give them a check. They should be able to pull it direct from your account.
    via mark-spline
  • 13
    If they don't want to provide proof of the reversal, they can take legal action and a judge can decide. They
    via mark-spline
  • 14
    won't because they know they're going about it the wrong way. But, it may take a comment like this to give them the motivation to figure out how to do it the right way.
    via mark-spline
  • 15
    androidbear04 • 16h ago Just so you know, you would not be obligated to pay back more than the face value of the checks or deposits, because they can reverse everything else in their accounting system.
    via mark-spline
  • 16
    Harrigan_Raen • 15h ago "No. You can fix this via the Payroll system and have the ACH payments reversed. Any further conversation on this topic I want done in writing via email. Thank You."
    via mark-spline
  • 17
    Valuable_Opti... • 16h ago • they are requiring This doesn't sound like an actual requirement. I'd leave the money alone and seek legal advice.
    via mark-spline
  • 18
    . Much_Differen... 15h ago • I'm shocked how often this gets mentioned here. I'm miles from being an accountant but if Jill pays. me $100 and pays the IRS $20, it doesn't make a bit of sense for Jill to ask me
    via mark-spline
  • 19
    for $120. You got a nice robust paper trail of who you paid and in what amount and why and when and from what account. It seems a step below lazy to straight- up malicious.
    via mark-spline

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