New Job: Payroll + Flexible Working Hours

[leftthenright]

I start a salary position on Monday as a Marketing Executive, where I will also be officially signing the contract and put on payroll. I was previously on JSA and looking for work. Would I be better off giving my employer a starter checklist form for tax code purposes or a tax code I saw on the HMRC app for being on JSA? In my contract, it says that I will be paid monthly in arrears and normal payday is at the end of the month. I start 1 April. Will I receive my first payday at the end of April or May? If my first payday is not April, will I receive two months' worth of pay in May? I am not familiar with being paid in monthly arrears as I have had hourly salary jobs in the past. A friend of mine said I would not receive my first months' pay and would receive one months' worth salary after leaving.

My employer was comfortable with offering me flexible working hours in the beginning of our communication, before the hiring stage, but changed his minds during contract negotiations. He felt it was unfair to his other employees and wasn't comfortable with the idea anymore. I respected that decision and continued with negotiations as I understand he doesn't know me fully at this stage and is totally new to this way of working. What I was wondering is would I be well within my rights to bring this up again at the end of the probation period? Flexible working hours is important to me, but I am willing to compromise for now as this specific job is a great fit for me. And would it be appropriate to ask for a bonus or small raise after the probation period if my performance is exceptional?

 

[Scalloway]

Any job that I have had which has been on a monthly salary the first payment is made at the end of the first month. I have never heard of a lying month.

Would I be better off giving my employer a starter checklist form for tax code purposes or a tax code I saw on the HMRC app for being on JSA?

As an employer I would only accept an official P45. Unless you get handed a paper P45 you should just fill in a starter checklist form.

As for the question about flexible hours I would check back later for replies as it is not my area of expertise.

 

[Mr D]

In my contract, it says that I will be paid monthly in arrears and normal payday is at the end of the month. I start 1 April. Will I receive my first payday at the end of April or May? If my first payday is not April, will I receive two months' worth of pay in May? I am not familiar with being paid in monthly arrears as I have had hourly salary jobs in the past. A friend of mine said I would not receive my first months' pay and would receive one months' worth salary after leaving.

And would it be appropriate to ask for a bonus or small raise after the probation period if my performance is exceptional?

Sounds like your friend is wrong.
Every monthly paid job I've had in over 3 decades and probably a couple of dozen employers has been a month in arrears - you start on 1st April you get paid on 30th April a full month.

Have had occasional jobs where commission could take a period of time to come through, a few months even - but that was separate from pay and the only instance in which an employer delayed payment and was agreed. If your job doesn't include commission then should be paid end of April.

I'd be wary of asking for a bonus unless doing something particularly good for the business. Save them £50k or generate a large sale they weren't expecting and it can be worth asking. They can of course say no.
Normal circumstances you will most likely get a salary for working, any bonuses the management announce and pay to all relevant staff.

You could ask for a pay rise. Again they can say no.
Here you could think tactical - do a short summary of why they should give you a pay rise at that point. 'I need the money' may well not work, however justifying it to the bosses can occasionally work. Present as to why they should give a pay rise rather than why you want one.

Used to know a guy in a company, got assigned to manage a small project that was in danger of slipping. He turned the project around and brought it in under budget and finished early - then asked for a pay rise of £5k. His CEO granted it immediately.

 

[Newchodge]

If you get a P45 from DWP in time, give them that, if not, complete the new starters form. It won't make one iota of difference as your first pay date will be the first pay date of the new tax year, so previous earnings/tax paid will not matter.

Therer are huge employers (Civil Service for instance) who have cut off dates for payroll information very close to the beginning of the month, so can't process the information in time for the end of the first month. Usually you would get an 'advance' at the end of the first month and then 2 months' on your May payslip. with 'recovery of the advance' on there, so you get the money on time and the paperwork catches up later. If this is an ordinaruy size employer you should get paid at the end of April.

You are within your rights to raise flexible working at any time, as you are within your rughts to raise anything at any time. If you mean 'is it a good idea' only you can judge that. You cannot know, until you have settled into the role, whether or how flexible working will work for your employer. Once you are settled it may be appropriate to rise the issue, with an explanation of how it would work and how any potentil negatives for the employer may be overcome.