Expert: Shirley McAllister, CPP, PHR - 12/1/2010

Question
I was offered a job were the payroll is on the 15th and 30th. I have always been paid weekly or bi weekly, so this is new for me. I'm having a hard time understanding how the time is sent in. If I work a total of 80 hours in a two week period, that time would be called in the week before the 15th or the 30th. I will be always be one week in the hole. But when I look at the calendar that makes no scene to me. It looks as if I would be even two weeks in the hole on times that the 15th or 30th fall on a Friday. Can you please explain it to me? What am I not seeing here. Some people say the checks are bigger on this payroll system. I don't see how. Is this company sending in the right amount of time and is it legal to pay someone only 80 hours bi monthly and have them in the hole like that? I live in Md and work in Va. Thanks Karen

Answer
Semi monthly is what this type of pay is called. the employee is paid twice a month. It is a legal and very common way to pay.

All the hours up to the cut off period for the pay period are counted. If it is 80 or if it is 88 or more. The first pay period may be short as the time may cut off and the new employee may not have worked a complete time period. After that than it should be all the hours worked. Overtime is figured on the 2nd pay period after it is determined by looking at the 1st and 2nd pay period how many overtime hours are worked.

I would go to the HR director and ask her to explain how time works and how this pay systems works. she should sit down with you and go through how semi monthly pay works. If you do not understand let her know and she can try to explain it in a way you can understand.


Shirley