r/personalfinance • u/Practicalbeaver ​ • Mar 03 '23

Check your pay stubs! Employment

I feel like this should go without saying, but it always amazes me how many people I see on here who run into problems because they never check their pay stubs. I’m getting my annual bonus paid out soon and I realized the amount listed on my pay stub was wrong. The CFO had calculated the bonuses incorrectly for anyone who got a mid year raise last year.

I would’ve been shorted $500 if I hadn’t double checked the math.

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u/animecardude ​ Mar 03 '23

I said this one time in this sub and got down voted to hell. I always check my paystubs as my income is variable.

Even when I was working an 8 hour day, 5x per week job, I still check pay stubs. Everyone should be checking it as it takes less than 5 minutes to look over.

7

u/throwingtinystills ​ Mar 03 '23

I wouldn’t downvote you, I don’t disagree that it’s good advice. But it makes me so anxious. I hate looking at anything financial related.

And then if I do find a discrepancy, what then I have to go check ALL of my paychecks to figure out when it started? And I have to prove it to them somehow? The thought of that happening makes me feel awful and I guess there is a price point for when I would say “okay hey now I do actually want that money back” but the thought of having to do all of that Or log into my accounts every two weeks just makes me feel nauseous.

I’m someone who lived in an apt for 3 years without a dishwasher because I tried 4 times to get the apt complex to fix it and they wouldn’t / didn’t see how it was completely not functioning from the time I moved in and it was more stress to fight them on it then just give up on having a clean kitchen.

I know it’s a problem but also it just feels like the price I (may?) pay right now.

7

u/sarcazm ​ Mar 03 '23

If it's an error payroll has eyes into, they can help you.

If you notice it on one paycheck, you can ask them to verify when this "change" took place and if they could correct/make right for all paychecks.

Payroll isn't on a "side" (yours or the company's). Their job is to make it right. If you're owed 2 hours of pay for every paycheck since 1/1/23, they will help you with that.

Taxes is probably the only exception. They can make it right going forward, but they can't retro taxes. Those taxes are already the government's money.