Question about being paid bi-weekly and starting a new job...?

Question

I started a new job the 20th of September, which was a Thursday, a day before everyone got paid. They got paid again this Friday(2 weeks later), and I was expecting a check. Should I have gotten one, or do some places make you wait a full month to get your first paycheck if they are paid bi-weekly?

Answer 1

First of all, state law dictates how a company has to pay you, so you can go to www.dol.gov, find a link for wage and hour and then look for a link to the different state laws. There is a page that shows what each state law is for getting paid.



For hourly positions if a company pay's bi-weekly - many pay a week in arrears, meaning you have to work a full two weeks to get paid for one.



More than likely that is the case here, which means you probably should have gotten paid for two days (for Thurs/Fri) on this check. However, it also depends on when the payroll cut-off dates are. Someone SHOULD have explained this all to you when you were hired.



You really need to check with your HR/payroll department and ask the following:



1) Was I supposed to get paid on this check? (they may have genuinely made a mistake in your new hire processing and won't realize it until you tell them!)



2) If not, when will I get paid? How many days will be on that check?



3) Do you pay a week in arrears?



4) What is the payroll cut-off date?



5) Do you have a payroll calendar? (So that you can see when the payroll cut-ff dates are, when payroll has to be submitted by, and when pay dates are)

Answer 2

The company has specific dates to pay when on a bi weekly system. Your starting date may have you getting 3 weeks pay or 1 !/2 depending on that start date. If there cycle has you being paid on the 4th, the you should have a nice check and yes, you will get another one on the 18th.

Answer 3

No, I don't think they are going to wait until 1 month before paying you. Who on earth can afford to do that? Most people, including myself, can't afford to not receive any paycheck in a month. Since you get paid bi-weekly it means you should get paid yesterday. If you didn't then you should ask your manager about it.