I’ve tried this on a few advice subs, they’ve removed my post without even reading it and we’re really hoping for some advice on this.
For context, we’re based in England.
My Fiancé is a manager in a particular sector of a nationwide company. She was made manager towards the end of 2021, when they opened the new sector.
It hasn’t been without issue, since she still has yet to receive her contract. She has been periodically asking for this, as well as keeping the emails to back this up as proof.
She does not know what she is officially supposed to be earning (rightly, or wrongly), instead being told that she would receive an increase from the deputy position that she did have a contract for from before.
About five-six months ago, everyone in the company received letters stating that they would receive salary increases onto their hourly rate. This letter did not state a specific amount, it gave a ‘possible’ range and stated that they may receive more specific letters later. The letters never arrived.
Her wage slips, do not state how many hours they work either.
She was informed last week, that she has allegedly been overpaid over the passed five-six months and that she has to pay it back. The amount is into four figures.
So, she has no contract, no confirmation of wages, no confirmation of the salary increase amount. So they are telling her, that they made a mistake and gave her no reason to know otherwise. It turns out, that someone had made a mistake on the number of hours she worked and she never knew this (since her hours are not on her wage slip).
She safely assumed, that this extra money was a part of her salary increase.
I don’t believe she should be paying it back, I know they normally have the right to (which to me is wrong, it’s their error. If I transferred money by accident, then there’s no guarantee that I can get it back. Why should it be different with companies). But, she never had any reason to understand that it was wrong to begin with. What should she do?
Before anyone asks, we’re mortgage saving and she shoves any excess money at the end of each month into her savings account. Of which, she cannot routinely access. So if it should come to it, then she would have to pay it back out of her own wages.
Surely if they never told her how much she was making, she shouldn’t have to pay it back? They could be making it up as they go along. Is the fact that she doesn’t have a contract help with any leverage?
Thanks in advance!