Ok, to start things off.. i work in a Nursing Home Facility. Because of school, I had to quit and that was on October 27th of 2007. Today, I received a check.. it was pretty unexpected because I did pick up my last paycheck the week after my quitting date. Anyway, I read the information about my paycheck.. and it said "Pay Period: 11/1/07 to 11/15/07".. that's odd, because I quit the week before that payroll date and I haven't been to that facility since then.. I called just to find out that the person in charge of payroll is on vacation for 3 months. My check will be voided by then. Weird thing is.. in order to clock in and out, you need to input your last 4 digits of your social security number via this hand-sensored machine. There's no way anybody would clock in and out for me. I was hesitant to call at first because this check would of been a mistake and I'd have to submit the freakin' large check..haha. But if it was a mistake in the first place, why did they even bother to send it out until now? On the envelope, it was sent out yesterday (Jan.9, 0. So I dont' know what to do.. Keep it until my w2 form comes in to confirm that this check was legit.. Go to the facility with this check and show it.. or just Cash it?

 

cash it

 

x2 :D

 

id say cash it....eventhough u do get in trouble its basically not your fault, just make sure, u keep the envelope or sumthin as evidence that u did get it in the mail rather than them thinkin u made a fraud check lol .

 

wow, a three month vacation? i want that guys job, he must be pretty good at it if he is paying people who aren't even working for the compnay anymore.

i would cash it, it is from the period from after you left, your company's payroll probably just isn't dated exactely insync.

i know there was one time my manager sent me to run work related errands one night, and to just call him when i was done and got home, and he would clock me out when i finished, and i did, i called him and gave him my password to clock out, and for some reason he didn't, so when i got to work the next day, i noticed i was still clocked in overnight, i told him, he said no problem, he would correct the time sheet later, and well, he forgot, and i got a nice fat paycheck for his negligence. and cashed it. in my opinion i had done my part and it was the manager's mistake and therefore i kept the paycheck and cashed it, and probably spent it on my car, which i use often for work anyway, so i re-invested it in the business, which is perfectly fine.

so just cash it, so long as it isn't some exorbinant amount of money that they will notice is missing, i'd do it.

 

cashing it tomorrow then

thanks guys.

 

If you're sure it's a mistake, then don't cash it. If you didn't work for it then it's not yours. This has nothing to do with whether or not you'll get caught. This is about what's right and what's wrong. If you know it's not yours and you keep it, it's wrong...period. I would contact them and get it straight. Chances are that something is "out of sync" and it might very well be yours to keep...but I would want to be sure first. Remember, the definition of integrity is how you act when nobody is around and you won't get caught.

 

Just realize that if it is error, they can legally make you pay it back. Same as if an employer overpays on a paycheck regardless if it was a mistake on their part.

 

^ this is true and unfortunately I have had the pleasure of dealing with this first hand. Don't cash it cause right now you think it is nice to have some extra money, but you will regret it when you are forced to pay it back. And if money is kind of tight now, then you will really be screwing yourself.

 

Just to be on the safe side, you should just send it to me, I can take care of it.

 

Most likely, The payroll company that the Nursing home is going off the fact that they didn't get any information on you leaving. So to keep you able to pay your bills they just used your average paycheck to fill in the lack of information they got this time. It's the Nursing homes HR person to give that information to them. Being that they are gone, they can't.
The thing is it's HR responsibility but YOUR Problem.
So Yes they can and most likely will get it back from you. One way or another.

The really bad part is when your next employer calls for a reference to your old jobs HR department.

"No sir. I would not hire him back. He stole money from a old folks home."

Ouch.

 

Although, the check might actually be legit. Non-exempt employees many times get paid "delayed" hours due to the fact they are hourly. So while the pay period may state 11/1 - 11/15, it could be paying you for the hours worked, for example, 10/18 - 11/2. The reason being salaried exempt employees can be paid "real time" hours since their payperiods are usually predictable, normally 86.67 hours per pay period, while it's impossible to predict hours for non-exempt hourly employees. So the pay period doesn't necessarily mean the days you worked.

I'm going to guess this is the case. HR people never make mistakes. We're practically perfect

 

Let me ask you this...did you get paid on the very first payroll you started? If not, then the "delayed hours" is probably the reason. It is normal for hourly employees to get an additional check once their employment ends to catch up with payroll, and it sounds like exactly what you are stating.

 

maybe its just a late x-mas bonus.. they were going to give it to you anyway.. just took time to find your address.. ive had this happen to me before.. was quite unexpected, and nice.. kinda like finding a $20 under your bed (matress, seat, weird spot in your wallet)

 

What about any type of retirement or stock plans? I know that at my previous company, both were offered and if you didn't meet a certain amount, say $2000 (on either or, not combined), they would refund what you had put in.

If you cash it and its not yours you'll have to pay it back. On the other hand, if you don't cash it until HR returns you run the risk of a void check due to the experation date. I'd say cash it, then turn around to your bank and purchase a casheirs check. They sometimes give you the option of when you want it to expire. This way you extend the life of the check and give youself an opportunity to find out whats going on. If its a mistake, simply sign the check back to them. This way, the bank has the money and it doesn't seem like YOU had to take the money out of your own pocket. If its not a mistake ....hehehe .... well, its all up to you. Have fun! Anyway, I hope it works out the best for you and you get to keep the money.

 

Any new developments on this?

 

Cash it!!!!!