What do I do if I haven't been paid? 5 Tips from a Physiotherapist.
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So you have worked your socks off, sent off your invoice, you excitedly check your bank balance and nothing…WHERE IS MY MONEY??? Here are 5 tips on how to manage this situation whilst staying calm and keeping a good relationship with your employer.
Disclaimer. The following post does not constitute legal advice. The post provides sensible advice from a friend. If in any doubt about how to proceed in an employment matter, please seek appropriate union and/or legal advice.
What do I do if I haven't been paid? 5 Tips from a Physiotherapist.
1. Assess the situation.
2. Check your agreement.
3. Send a reminder.
4. Know your rights.
5. Prevention is better than the cure.
1. Assess the situation.
It is so important to stay calm. The mantra I often use is ‘everybody is doing their best’. There could be numerous reasons for why you haven’t been paid. First, check your invoice, check the time and date it was sent and make a note. Check the account details you provided and that they are correct.
2. Check your agreement.
Now, depending on who your employer is will change your actions. If you work in the NHS or private healthcare setting you will have a very comprehensive contract where payment is scheduled for a specific date each month and there is a payroll department where your managers send off a monthly payroll sheet. If you have ever seen this spreadsheet they can be very long and mistakes can be made, especially when names are similar.
If you are working for a small business or individual your paperwork can vary. You may have something called a service level agreement (SLA) - a written agreement between yourself and your employer where your expected tasks are documented including how cover is arranged in your absence and how and when you will be paid.
You may have only had a verbal agreement, this can leave both you and the employer exposed.
3. Send a Reminder.
It is important that all your subsequent actions are well thought out.
Send a polite reminder to your employer. I advise resending your invoice by forwarding your original email invoice and include a polite message to say:
Hello,
I have not yet received payment for my invoice dated……….. I have reattached my invoice for your convenience. Many Thanks.
It is a quick, polite, non confrontational message, assigning no blame. More often than not, your employer will apologise profusely and send your money immediately.
If you work in a larger organisation, send a similar email but CC in your manager and payroll, highlight the email as high importance and tick the box for read receipts.
4. Know your rights.
If you have a contract or an SLA this process is so much easier. You have sent a reminder and still…tumbleweed. Send a further reminder now including a reference to your contract/ SLA. Highlight that you have upheld your part of the agreement and request payment. Keep the email on the thread of the previous email to show the timeframe of your request.
If you do not have a contract, here is a link to the citizens advice service who may be able to advise you.
5. Prevention is better than the cure.
As we know as Physiotherapists, preventing a situation is far easier than solving one. When starting a new job, do not begin any work until you have a written and signed agreement in place. Make sure you send a clear invoice on the agreed date - you can do this beforehand and set a scheduled email.
I hope this post has provided some relief and support if you have found yourself in the unfortunate position of not being paid for your hard work.
I would love to hear what kind of jobs you are currently working in, or what kind of job you would like to work in? Let me know in the comments below!
About the Blogger:
Hi, I’m Rebekah.
I’m a Physiotherapist with a passion to support others to get to where they want to be. I love to organise and plan which, comes in handy for my mission to empower others to achieve their Physiotherapy career goals.
