How the Grinch stole Xmas

Imagine your employer informed you that they overpaid you the previous check and were taking hundreds of dollars out of the next. The check before Christmas! They claim they overpaid the FLSA calculations on your last check, the check with your Stability pay (Holiday Bonus). But offer no explanation or proof.

They email you with a number to call if you have any questions.

Questions like:

Can you show me where you overpaid me?

Can't we spread this out over a few checks if I was over paid?

When you call the number you don't get the person who you were told to call. But the person on the other end takes your information and you are told you will be called back that afternoon.

That call doesn't come. If you call back later and ask, you are told, "No one is available to talk."

We have had payroll issues with Hennepin County for a long time. Unpaid overtime, missing sick time, unpaid raises and backpay. We have had many meetings with the County. County payroll is chronically off.

Now Hennepin County has a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars. They have very high paid accountants to manage their budget, guys with Masters Degrees in Accounting. Their one job is to make sure the numbers add up.

All of the payroll is done on software. Software with names like APEX and Workforce. Software programmed and run by high paid IT guys. Guys who's one job is to make sure that the payroll is inputted correctly.

Finally the day before Thanksgiving we were  told we just had to trust them.

The very next check they claim is wrong in their favor. Suddenly it's not weeks to resolve, grievances to be filed, no, it's instant correction.

Merry Xmas Grinch, er Hennepin County.

I'd love to give them a Department of Labor audit for my gift.