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It’s all about timing.

John Harrison's famous chronometer

Image via Wikipedia

Office discussions recently revealed that while the majority of us are paid fortnightly, there were an unlucky few who had to live on monthly. That minority, of course, felt shortchanged. In one case, they were urged to talk to HR and ask to be moved to a fortnightly cycle.

Sounds reasonable enough. Right?

But it’s never that simple. I could’ve told you that. The time for negotiations is BEFORE you start the job. Before you sign on the dotted line. Once the contract is done and dusted, they are not going to be very receptive to making changes.

The company policy is for monthly pay (I guess it’s much easier for payroll to only have to deal with paychecks 12 times a year). All new staffers have this in their contracts, and it’s up to them to speak up if they want that condition changed.

So this coworker tried. She asked HR to switch her over. They were not very receptive. They wanted a reason. “Changes in personal circumstances” wasn’t deemed good enough – they didn’t see how being paid more frequently would help her out.

This is not a judgement on HR in any way. I can totally see their viewpoint – you’ve managed this long on monthly and it’s going to be a headache to alter that.

What I’m actually trying to get at is that it’s up to YOU to negotiate at the appropriate stage. It may seem HR is being unnecessarily difficult or stubborn, but you signed over your power a long time ago.

7 thoughts on “It’s all about timing.

  • Reply Tweets that mention It’s all about timing. « Musings of an Abstract Aucklander -- Topsy.com October 29, 2010 at 20:21

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by eemusings, eemusings. eemusings said: It’s all about timing.: Image via Wikipedia Office discussions recently revealed that while the majority of us a… http://bit.ly/aVEbWx […]

  • Reply FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com October 30, 2010 at 00:11

    Exactly.

    And when companies say: Oh yea no travel in this consulting firm that deals all over the world. Don’t worry, you’ll get to stay at home, we won’t send you anywhere…… ask them to put that into the contract before you sign it.

  • Reply ndchic October 30, 2010 at 02:43

    Hmmm… I never would have thought to negotiate when I’m paid. Perhaps if I start a new job, I will remember at that time.

  • Reply payingmyself October 30, 2010 at 04:33

    I completely forget the math now, but I remember learning in an accounting class or somewhere along the line that because of the time value of money or something like that, it is cheaper for your employer to pay you less frequently (e.g. monthly or on the 15th and 30th) than to pay you bi-weekly.

  • Reply Aloysa October 30, 2010 at 05:14

    A long time ago I used to live on a monthly pay. Boy it was tough! By the end of the month I always would run out of money. I manage my bills so much better when I am getting paid bi-weekly. Our payments are not even negotiable. The whole company gets paid on the same system.

  • Reply Vacation, Alexa Ranking and Aloysa’s Reading Picks » The Kitchen Sink November 3, 2010 at 01:19

    […] you get paid bi-weekly or monthly? It’s All About Timing @Musings of an Abstract […]

  • Reply SS4BC November 5, 2010 at 06:33

    i prefer being paid monthly. but maybe im the minority. that said negotiations are exceptionally important.

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