UK shift workers are facing significant challenges due to payroll inaccuracies, leading to underpayment and undervaluation.
- 60% of shift workers believe they are underpaid, with reported issues around unpaid overtime and late payments.
- A significant 44% of workers are concerned about not receiving overtime pay, impacting overall work satisfaction.
- Research highlights that complicated and volatile shift patterns contribute to difficulties in accurate payroll management.
- The lack of real-time connections between shift planning and payroll systems exacerbates these issues, affecting employee morale.
UK shift workers are experiencing a troubling trend of payroll errors that result in being underpaid or undervalued. According to a survey conducted by Censuswide in August 2024 with 1,000 UK shift workers, 60% believe they have been underpaid, highlighting a critical issue within payroll processes.
These workers report various problems, including unpaid overtime pay and delayed payments. Specifically, 44% are concerned they have missed out on overtime pay, with 38% stating that they are being paid late, and 23% claiming they do not receive their pay slips regularly.
The complexities of managing fast-paced shift work are significant, as nearly half of the respondents find it challenging to track their hours and confirm the accuracy of their pay.
The research shows that 43% of workers say the complexities of their continuously changing shifts make it difficult for them to ensure their pays are correct. As such, over half of the workers share and compare their pay slips with colleagues to verify their payments, rather than relying on HR or payroll departments. This could be due to 36% of the respondents experiencing difficulties in getting clarifications from HR or payroll when discrepancies arise.
Senior Manager Neil Pickering of UKG notes that industries like manufacturing, retail and 3PL, face shifts in supply chain dynamics and consumer demand, making working patterns volatile. Pickering argues for the necessity of implementing technology that connects shift planning and payroll systems in real time.
The impact of these payroll inaccuracies is financially burdensome; 14% of workers have resorted to payday loans to cover for the financial shortfall caused by incorrect or late payments.
Resolving payroll inaccuracies is critical to ensuring UK shift workers are fairly compensated and valued, enhancing their overall work satisfaction and productivity.
