Payslips

Re: Payslips

Kate Richardson — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:49:13 GMT

Well done you

Re: Payslips

Bob Russell — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:44:50 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]

Hi, Just thought I'd update on this situation. After finally pinning down my boss to a meeting, it emerged that she had realised that she needed help, and had got an accountant who was trawling through the last many years worth of accounts to do payslips and back payslips. So yesterday I recieved payslips for August and July!!!! We are getting there but slowly. :-)

Next mission to get H&S sorted! ;-)

[/quote]

Best possible outcome for everyone. It is tough running a practice and on occasions things get out of hand.

We are redoing last years accounts because our local accountant turned out to be useless/lazy/greedy and presented accounts that I would not have been satisfied with presenting to HMRC.

Once things are sorted perhaps suggest that your boss asks the accountant if he/she knows of a reliable bookkeeper. They cost considerably less than an accountant per hour - leaves the accountant to do the end of year books etc. We are now using basic Sage Instant Accounts and the bookkeeper checks we are doing things properly. This saves even more money for the practice!

Payroll is quite easy once set up. Our bookkeeper charges so little for it so we let her do it.

Well done for sticking with your employer and pushing to get things changed rather than walking away!!!

Re: Payslips

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:26:35 GMT

Hoorah! She will make you a partner next year.

Re: Payslips

An On MRCVS — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 06:46:37 GMT

Next mission to get H&S sorted! ;-)

Re: Payslips

Julian Earl — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:08:34 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]

If do get nowhere with your employer and feel it is better to move on, do make sure you explain exactly why; if she is having trouble, then losing an assistant is not going to make things any better for her, so maybe this could be the push she needs to get things sorted out. (but hopefully not the wrong sort of push). As well as being supportive, I think be very sympathetic and understanding, try not to make her feel as though you are criticising her. Maybe writing your concerns down in a letter and giving it to her to read would be a good way of communicating- she then has time to read it when she can focus her attention on it, and you can take time to word it carefully so that you get all your concerns over to her without getting flustered or risking the situation getting heated?

[/quote]

I would strongly advise that you do this, bearing in mind the comments above about worries of being seen to be complicit should the tax office become involved. Also, has your boss never heard of accountants? It may be an expensive way of solving this issue but it could save a lot in the long run.

Re: Payslips

Sarah Wheeler — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:55:15 GMT

Ok, fair enough, but to me it just sounds like the problems run deep here. I mean, the payslips could be just the tip of the iceberg, who knows what else is going on? (Or not going on.) And it sounds like it's not a recent problem. I obviously am more interested in self preservation; I applaud the good intentions but it's not what I would do.

Re: Payslips

Kate Richardson — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:46:16 GMT

Hear hear Gillan

Re: Payslips

Gillian Mostyn — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:44:41 GMT

Because some people think of others as well as themselves. Maybe just because she isn't obliged to help doesn't mean she doesn't want to?

Re: Payslips

Sarah Wheeler — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:35:04 GMT

Do you really really like the job? Is it your job of a lifetime?

If not, and I doubt it is, I would leave. Now. You are an employee, an assistant veterinary surgeon. You have worked for this woman for two months. You are not her financial advisor, counselor, or friend. Why pretend to be?

Re: Payslips

Rob Loxley — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:10:04 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]I have spoken to colleagues at work about the situation, and they have never recieved payslips and are also being paid in round numbers (so I'm very suspicious that taxes aren't being paid or are not being paid properly).[/quote]

You could get one of the longstanding employees to check their NI record - e.g by requesting a state pension forecast - which will show up if any NI has been paid.

Re: Payslips

J G Wray — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:44:14 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]so I want to help rather than drop people in it. [/quote]

Phone SPVS. Join SPVS. Get your boss to join SPVS. They have some excellent people to talk to who don't just suck their teeth. But, they need to be contacted and spoken to in confidence. More offline if you're interested. This is too public.

JGW

Re: Payslips

An On MRCVS — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:46:33 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

Do many of the clients pay cash, as opposed to cheque or plastic ?????????

If so, almost certainly very, very dodgy

Wynne

[/quote]

No they pay by card/cash/cheque as any other practice I've worked in.

Re: Payslips

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:07:46 GMT

Do many of the clients pay cash, as opposed to cheque or plastic ?????????

If so, almost certainly very, very dodgy

Wynne

Re: Payslips

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:43:52 GMT

Sounds like a really bad situation.

Re: Payslips

Edward Jones — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:37:06 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Surely any competent accountant would have seen that things weren't right?[/quote]

Presumably an accountant hasn't been near the place for years, which is possible if she is a sole trader or in partnership.

Re: Payslips

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:29:46 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]I have spoken to ACAS who offer free advise on employment issues. They say that I need to write to my boss, and that because I'm paid monthly she must respond within a month (ie start giving me payslips), and if she doesn't the next step is to go to an employement tribunal (sounds scary!). Has anyone any experience of going to a tribunal? [/quote]

A very "correct" and legalistic response, and not terribly helpful.

[quote user="An On MRCVS"] have spoken to colleagues at work about the situation, and they have never recieved payslips and are also being paid in round numbers (so I'm very suspicious that taxes aren't being paid or are not being paid properly). However one did once recieve a photocopy of her p60![/quote]

This is what baffles me; it suggests that this has been going on for years. Does this lady not have an accountant even for her annual accounts? Surely any competent accountant would have seen that things weren't right?

She must understand that HMRC might descend for an inspection at any moment, whether or not they receive any tip-off, and if she hasn't been operating PAYE and NI she is going to incur some really severe penalties.

Re: Payslips

An On MRCVS — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:56:01 GMT

So time for an update.

I have spoken to ACAS who offer free advise on employment issues. They say that I need to write to my boss, and that because I'm paid monthly she must respond within a month (ie start giving me payslips), and if she doesn't the next step is to go to an employement tribunal (sounds scary!). Has anyone any experience of going to a tribunal?

I have spoken to colleagues at work about the situation, and they have never recieved payslips and are also being paid in round numbers (so I'm very suspicious that taxes aren't being paid or are not being paid properly). However one did once recieve a photocopy of her p60!

I plan to try and pin my boss down (good luck to me!) to a meeting to try and discuss these things properly, and offer some help, then if no response put pen to paper. I think the easy way out would be to report things to HMRC annonymously at the moment, but I do like my job and the people I work with, (and I've been looking for a job that suits me and my family this well for a while, so not keen to let it go now!) so I want to help rather than drop people in it.

Re: Payslips

Kate Richardson — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:21:48 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"] losing an assistant is not going to make things any better for her[/quote]

And I didn't mean this to make you feel guilty

Re: Payslips

Kate Richardson — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:52:39 GMT

Re: Payslips

Bob Russell — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:14:27 GMT

I agree with some of the posters. This could indicate that your employer is in big trouble and with the constant debate about mental health in the profession I would seriously consider that the helpline may be the best way forward.

I have not known any practices work like this (other than All creatures Great and Small days) so it suggests to me that the practice owner may need help. Perhaps a suggestion that a better accountant might be a good idea would be a fairly neutral place to start!!!

If you feel you are not in a position to help then it is probably time to get out! If it is a nice practice and you feel there may be a future there for you work at it.

Re: Payslips

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:06:42 GMT

If your employer is honest, but overwhelmed, then a phone call to the Vetsurgeons Helpline might involve someone with greater expertise in sorting out problems-not as drastic as involving Inland Revenue, and might be the spur necessary to get her to act

Wynne

Re: Payslips

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:53:52 GMT

I think that as a new employee you are in the best position to rock the boat and insist on the correct paperwork. And although I think that trying to help her sort out the problem is the kindest way, if she won't accept help then, as I already said, you need to contact your tax office to ensure you don't get ensnared in the chaos. She'll be better off eventually for sorting it all out...

Re: Payslips

Niall Taylor — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:57:06 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

Sounds like utter nonsense to me. It cannot be that difficult or time consuming to carry out.

[/quote]

Well, it is difficult and time consuming, but then so is a lot of the rest of life; we can't just ignore important stuff because it's difficult and time consuming. If you can't do it yourself you pay someone who can so you can get on with what you are good at instead of worrying about what you're not.

This is a seriously bad situation, your boss is doing the equivalent of fishing wads of cash out of her pocket and thrusting them into your hand when you ask to be paid. There is no way that your tax liability can be being calculated correctly if she is this disorganised so you could be in a tricky situation with HMRC yourself if you don't do something about it.

You could offer to buy the practice off her if you feel so inclined - I bet she would find it a great relief! Then you could employ a practice manager paid from the money that is doubtless haemorrhaging away from the practice as a result of management ineptitude.

Cheers,

Niall

Re: Payslips

An On MRCVS — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:40:48 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

Rather than being deliberately illegal, I'd hope that this boss has just got far too far behind on their accounting to know where to catch up. As Evelyn said, it seems unbelievable that someone wouldn't make sure payroll is up to date and done accurately.

Rather than come on the heavies, I'd be a little more supportive initially. Are they a sole partner? Is the practice very busy? Is there any indication they aren't coping? Sending the tax inspectors in to someone who isn't coping already is harsh...

Maybe ask for a meeting after work to discuss the problem - and put across how important this issue is for the staff (and HMRC). Maybe see if they would be grateful for your support - and help them arrange proper accounting done externally if they genuinely don't have the time? Their attitude at this point should make it clear whether they are snowed under or being deliberately evasive.

Obviously if they won't accept any help or make changes then you do then need to approach your tax office. It will cause all kinds of problems for your employer if they haven't been doing things properly - but it will inevitably happen one day anyway....

[/quote]

Hi,

Thanks for all your responses.

Gillian I think you've hit the nail on the head, she is sole partner, the practice is busy and on top of that she has had problems in her private life, and things have just got overwhelming for my boss. I think these are the reasons that other people in the practice haven't kicked up more fuss, but as Wynne points out I don't want to be complicit by not acting when I suspect there is a problem. I also think that my boss is very stand-offish about things (I imagine that the lack of payslips is the tip of the iceberg) which makes it difficult to be supportive as the subject is always avoided. I tried to find time again to talk to her today, but she "had paperwork to do"...

Re: Payslips

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:55:51 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]Sending the tax inspectors in to someone who isn't coping already is harsh...[/quote]

Doesn't bother the tax inspectors.