Have question about paychecks

[DisneyGirl4188]

DH's company is scattered across the state. The main office used to send paychecks via Fedex (the don't do direct deposit). For 6 years, it would usually arrive Friday (every other one) by noon, but then started to come anywhere from 2-4pm.

The company decided to save money and mail checks via USPS. This started a couple months ago. Only twice has the check actually come on a Friday and once it was after 2pm. Most of the time it has come on Saturday and usually it comes after 12pm.

He is supposed to be paid today, but is worried that the check won't be here. The problem is that if it's not here today or is late tomorrow, he won't be able to cash it until Tuesday.

Is there a law that states employess need to be paid on the actual paydate?? I have never had this issue with any place I worked, so I don't know.

(Oh, he is looking for another job, but no one is hiring now at his pay level).

 

[Christine]

I can't help you about the law but, I have to ask. Why do these people not do direct deposit?

My company only has 12 employees and even WE do direct deposit.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I have no idea why they won't do direct deposit. They said it costs too much, but I know that's a lie. I think the real reason is because they are trying to "float" paychecks. I can't be for certain, but it seems that way.

There is so much wrong with this company it's crazy. Dh has been unhappy for a while, but it's hard to find work making the same as he is now (unless he commutes 2 hours).

 

[Christine]

I have no idea why they won't do direct deposit. They said it costs too much, but I know that's a lie. I think the real reason is because they are trying to "float" paychecks. I can't be for certain, but it seems that way.

There is so much wrong with this company it's crazy. Dh has been unhappy for a while, but it's hard to find work making the same as he is now (unless he commutes 2 hours).

Well, it does cost. In fact, the smaller the company, the more it actually costs per check. The large companies accounts are so big that the bank usually waves the fees for this.

In my company's case, our previous owner was a partner in a new, local bank and, for that reason, the direct deposit fees for waved. However, until that time, the company did kind of "balk" at paying the fees.

So there is *something* to that, I guess.

 

[dejavu]

I am a bookeeper at a company where I mail checks and in Illinois as long as you mail the check on the paydate that is all that is required. The postmark has to be the date of pay. Hope this helps- I used to do direct deposit payroll at anther company and it was great but there is a cost involved so maybe your DH's company doesn't want to incur the cost. Either way I think it's crummy to pay people by USPS just because of the holidays.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

He works for a fairly large company and I looked into the cost of direct deposit, so I know that it is cheaper to do that than to mail the checks.

I just looked up the WV law and it states:

• Notify employees in writing at the time of hiring of the rate of pay and of the day, hour and place of payment and thereafter of any changes.

He was told payday is Friday and they were all assured that they would still be paid on Fridays, even though they are now using USPS. Wouldn't the above statement mean that they are breaking the law?

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I get paid every Friday. The accountant does all of our payroll in house, yes she actually writes a business check for each one of us and that is our paycheck. When I get paid this afternoon I will get paid for this week (including today), I don't know many companies that do this anymore. But I won't get my check until 5pm today so it won't go into the bank until Tuesday (well actually Wednesday since it won't post until 2pm on Tuesday). It's frustrating but it could be worse.

My second job has direct deposit. I get paid every 2 weeks and the check shows in my account every other Friday. And it takes a week after we work to get paid for it. I love the "magic" of money just showing up in my account.

 

[Allison]

He works for a fairly large company and I looked into the cost of direct deposit, so I know that it is cheaper to do that than to mail the checks.

I just looked up the WV law and it states:

• Notify employees in writing at the time of hiring of the rate of pay and of the day, hour and place of payment and thereafter of any changes.

He was told payday is Friday and they were all assured that they would still be paid on Fridays, even though they are now using USPS. Wouldn't the above statement mean that they are breaking the law?

No, I don't think so. He was aware of the change which the company can do as stated above (thereafter of any changes). The day of payment is still Friday. The day he cashes the check is different.

 

[dejavu]

Right because you are being paid today but if someone doesn't cash their checks for two weeks it is not the employers fault- I know this is not what you want to hear but since the checks are written and mailed today then today is the pay date- sorry

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

So, even though today is payday, but he may not get the check until tomorrow that's still ok? I'm confused. His company stated that they would still have their checks on Friday (just like the past 6 years) but now it doesn't get here until Saturday?

He's not trying to sue them, but we are just trying to understand (his coworker is the one that brought this up and we weren't sure. I figures the DIS would know )

 

[Allison]

So, even though today is payday, but he may not get the check until tomorrow that's still ok? I'm confused. His company stated that they would still have their checks on Friday (just like the past 6 years) but now it doesn't get here until Saturday?

He's not trying to sue them, but we are just trying to understand (his coworker is the one that brought this up and we weren't sure. I figures the DIS would know )

Yes, it is okay.

 

[poohandwendy]

Yes, it is okay.

Not only that, but since it is a holiday week, he may actually get the check a day later. In some cases that is allowed too (if Monday was a work holiday- if the payroll office didn't work)

 

[lg3]

I worked in a payroll dept. for many years. I don't know about W. Va, but the check had to be at least physically cut and left the company's hands on the day specified. Sadly, you are out of luck if they don't offer direct deposit.

 

[Honu]

Has he told his employer he is not getting it until Saturday?

 

[luv2nascar]

agreeing with other, as long check is cut on payday. Stinks for you but company is still okay with the way they are doing it.

 

[ducklite]

The company I work for has locations in seven states. I was intrigued by this question, so I asked our HR guy. He said that in some states, what theya re doing is perfectly legal, but in others, the paychaeck ahs to be in the emplyees hand by 5:00pm on a certain day that falls "x" number of days after the end of the particular pay period. He reminded me taht we have had to FedEx checks to terminated emplyees who have been told not to step foot on the premesis again to ascertain that the paycheck had been delivered as required by law.

He is not familiar with WV law but can look it up for you if you'd like him to.

Anne

 

[drakethib]

Direct Deposit cost a company of about 30 employees about $40 per month plus 10cents per "check" deposited.

 

[TDC Nala]

There won't be any mail delivery on Tuesday so if it didn't come today you're out of luck.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

I do the payroll for our company. We used to issue paper checks for all of our employees. Our bank charged a small fee per check. Then we changed to direct deposit and they charge a small fee per direct deposit. I think you might be right about the company trying to float the money by not doing direct deposit. It is a fact that when a company has direct deposit, the money leaves their account earlier than if the employees have to cash or deposit paper checks.

When we did issue the paper checks, we mailed them the day before their payday. They did not always get the checks the next day. We always told the employees to allow 5 working days for the delivery of their checks before we would place a stop payment and reissue the check. Now that everyone is on direct deposit, it is not an issue.

 

[rcraw45425]

I feel for you! DH's company had problems a while ago (restructuring, name change, etc) for 1 year we did without Direct Deposit, checks were either mailed (~5 days time to receive thanks to USPS) or overnighted to hospital. My biggest problem was since it was concidered an out of state payroll check, my bank wanted to place a 5 day hold on the funds, after it took 3-5 days to get to us . I had to physically walk into the bank each month and find an officer to initial it to release the funds, which was a real PITA! THey pulled this same trick with us for Novembers check, we had to pick it up at the hospital then I had to get it initialled to have funds available. It doesn't seem fair at all that you have to wait for your money

Oh yeah, one time the check arrived at our house in an open envelope!