What to do and say when your boss doesn't pay you for extra work
As an employee, we all have the responsibility to do our job right and even go above and beyond expectations when needed. It feels great when you know the company values your contributions.
But if that’s not the case for you, and your boss keeps asking you to do extra work beyond your job description with no pay increase, or work extra hours without paying penalty rates, it can be disheartening.
If this is happening to you right now, here are some things you can do and say to your boss to address the issue.
Gather your data
Before you schedule a meeting with your boss, it’s important to have all the information ready. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a pay calculator where you can check if you’re getting the correct award wages based on the amount of work you do and other factors. Have your previous pay slips ready, as well. Calculate and record the penalty rates he owes you for those days you work beyond your regular working hours, weekends, or holidays. This data should help you backup your claims and avoid any misunderstanding.
You can also check the classifications in the Award that you’re paid under, as it may be that the additional duties you’ve been asked to take on mean that you are now classified at a higher level, which naturally comes with higher rates of pay.
If you’re always working overtime
The next thing to do is talk to your boss calmly and politely. Have an honest conversation to let him or her know the extra work you’re doing is wearing you down and compromising your work-life balance. It’s also the best time to show the data you’ve gathered.
Additionally, tell him or her that you’re all for being a team player but fear that you’re not receiving fair work treatment and that it may lead you to employee burnout. Explain that when it happens, you may not be able to deliver your best performance, which may impact company workflow.
If you’re being asked to do personal errands
If your boss has been asking you to do personal errands, such as making coffee, paying for personal bills, or picking up takeaways for him or her (and your role isn’t that of personal assistant), avoid saying “it’s not my job”, as this will probably be received very negatively.
Instead, keep your most professional demeanour to point out to him or her that your responsibilities seem to have changed. Based on the degree of your relationship, he or she may not even realise that they are asking you to run personal errands. So, ask your boss if he or she could arrange for the person in the right role to do those errands rather than you. Another option is to ask for a re-evaluation of your role and award wages.
Consider other forms of compensation and benefits
While it’s very important to get your extra work paid in monetary terms like penalty rates or higher wages, sometimes the company simply doesn’t have the capacity to do this. If this is the case with you, you could ask for other forms of compensation and benefits, like extra days off or a leave credit, remote working capabilities, flexible work schedules, or even free training to help you upskill and develop your career further.
Be honest
If work becomes too much for you to handle and you’re suffering from burn out, sometimes the pay becomes secondary to your physical, emotional and mental health. Your overall wellbeing must be your priority, so, be honest and let your boss know you can no longer take on the extra hours or workload. Politely refuse it and explain that you need to have enough downtime to ensure you will be able to continue doing a good job.
Final thoughts
Never hesitate to ask to get paid for extra work you do. Being courageous enough to step up and speak for your rights indicates that you know your worth and the value of your time. But if you’re in a tight situation right now, and are looking to re-train or upskill, we’re here to help. Just take a look at our cash loans up to $5,000 to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, the cash is usually in your bank account within a few hours – so you can enrol in that training course today to develop your earning potential in the future!