Got a bigger pay rise than expected

[seany25]

For passing probation in my new job I was expecting a 500 quid salary boost.

For Decembers pay I got significantly more than expected. I messed about with a salary calculator for a bit and based on the numbers it would appear that I got a 3k increase.

I'm not entirely sure what to do about this. I mean, if it's genuine, I'm obviously delighted, but I'm thinking, what if it's a test of honesty?

The way I see it, I have three choices..

One is to leave it until next month and see if I get the same amount, then I'll query with the COO.

Two is to query it right away as soon as we start back on the 4th.

Three is to just say absolutely nothing at all.

There was no mention of any extra Christmas bonus going to be added to our pay. But even so, the numbers are very specific and would work out at exactly 3k.

What would anyone else do?

[Ellener]

33 minutes ago, seany25 said:

if it's genuine, I'm obviously delighted, but I'm thinking, what if it's a test of honesty?

Well it's either genuine or a mistake I would imagine. Why would they 'test' your honesty? Don't spend any until you are sure it's yours- they would probably adjust any mistake in a later ( lesser ) pay-packet. You could wait and see if that happens. I've heard of a few people who were given 'good faith' pay rises over the pandemic. Or just go and ask for a salary breakdown if it's playing on your mind. 

Congratulations on passing your probationary period.

[ShyViolet]

I don't think jobs do "tests of honesty" like that.  There's no need for you to ask if it was a mistake. 

[Wiseman2]

Is it a Christmas or end of year bonus?

Do they reimburse for unused vacation, personal and sick days?

If it's the last paycheck of the year, it could be bunch of different things.

Talk to your accountant. You may have tax changes or be taxed on bonuses,etc.

 

[Pumaza]

Never heard of jobs doing this kind of test. 

Bonus seems to me like something you get on your bankaccount and move on .

Like people dont discus it or ask why what when. Unless something was promise and ddnt happen.

If you really did the math good. And sure you can ask the specific department.(finance department). So you can feel more relax to spent it.

2020 was a hard year. And you may have been working very hard, succesful and dont see your value now, to get a higher bonus.

Or it may be many stuff they paying you of end of the year. Many business clean up their administration so they start the new year with everything clean. So maybe they went true the books and paid anything that needed to be paid.Or you just deserved that bonus.

Just make a call to the department and get over with if you sont feel easy about it.Dont tell other coworkers. Bonus can bring jealousy if someone that maybe got 500, hear you ask about your 3000...🙄😭😂😂😂😂😂✌🏽

[seany25]

Sorry guys, it turned out to be a £250 Christmas bonus that they didn't tell us about. They were supposed to send me a letter stating how the bonus was a thank you for my hard work throughout our launch year.

It wouldn't have needed to question it if we'd got that letter on the day we were supposed to get it (the 18th) but alas, 250 quid extra for doing my job was much appreciated.

[Eternal Sunshine]

I had this situation recently (I received a 5% annual salary increase instead of 3%). I wasn’t notified of any changes in my annual % increase, just noticed it in my pay.

I decided to check with my boss who said that it was some kind of glitch in the HR system - but thanked me for my honesty and told me to keep it

I don’t think it’s any kind of test but is always worth checking. If it’s a software mistake, they may end up taking it out of your future pays.

[Commongoal123]

On 1/3/2021 at 9:00 AM, seany25 said:

For passing probation in my new job I was expecting a 500 quid salary boost.

For Decembers pay I got significantly more than expected. I messed about with a salary calculator for a bit and based on the numbers it would appear that I got a 3k increase.

I'm not entirely sure what to do about this. I mean, if it's genuine, I'm obviously delighted, but I'm thinking, what if it's a test of honesty?

The way I see it, I have three choices..

One is to leave it until next month and see if I get the same amount, then I'll query with the COO.

Two is to query it right away as soon as we start back on the 4th.

Three is to just say absolutely nothing at all.

There was no mention of any extra Christmas bonus going to be added to our pay. But even so, the numbers are very specific and would work out at exactly 3k.

What would anyone else do?

My paycheck is commissions based and therefore varies greatly.  I have had a few mistakes in my pay before where I was paid too much and I spoke up about it.

I am not saying that they necessarily overpaid you too.  What I am saying though is that if you think something is off it is probably better to address it than not address it.

Think of it this way.  Even if it is the correct amount, they will see your honesty and they will note that.  Which would only mean that they will regard you higher than they already do, and could possibly lead to raises in the future.  They would likely remember this act on your end.

If it is a mistake, and you speak up about it instead of pretending you didn't notice, the outcome is the same as above where the alternative is they see you as obviously hiding it.

With all that said, companies don't generally "test" employees with honesty through their paycheck.  That might even be illegal, I don't know.  Regardless it would be far from being morally and ethically sound on the company's part.  So I think your thought that you are being tested might have to do with some internal thinking that because of your history (drugs?  You mentioned probation) somehow has to do with your reliability being poor.  And I am here to tell you as a former addict that this is not the case.  Don't talk to yourself like that.

If it were me, I'd talk to your HR or payroll or supervisor about this.  Maybe all three.  Nothing bad can come of it except for them adjusting your payroll accordingly right?