At the moment I'm working two days a week - one day for uni and one for Hornsby. I get paid the same amount every week at uni, which I always get at the end of the fortnight. For my other job I invoice them however much I work, which gets paid some time in the next following months. That used to work OK. I'd invoice them 6 or 7 hours a day, and it didn't really matter when I got paid. Now I have two jobs, every dollar I earn at Hornsby only counts for about 30 cents after Centrelink and tax. Which is all fine because I don't think Centrelink should pay me they same regardless of how much I earn. But the problem is that when there are expensive weeks, like these last few with the higher rent, I have to choose between working and getting some money months down the track, or not working and getting paid this week. I've been gradually invoicing them less and less each week. It's not down to about 2 hours a week, even though I usually work 8. Even though it's kind of against my principles, to take extra money from the government rather than get paid hours I've actually work, that's what happens. When I have to fill out the invoice and aren't sure if I'll have enough for rent that week, it's so hard not to just put down less.
The other thing is that it has meant I've ended up working less. Even though I mostly like the job, and it pays well when the money eventually arrives.
I think there's a lesson in it for both employers and the government. I don't know if it would be the same for other people in my position, but I would imagine so. My job would get more hours if they paid sooner, and if the government didn't cut payments this week for income that won't actually arrive for several months. The government would obviously have to pay out a lot less if I invoiced them eight hours a day instead of one, and the economy would be better off for the additional incentive there is to actually show up at work. I guess they assume that most jobs will pay straight away, which is a fair assumption.
These things are only an issue when I'm worried there won't be enough money. I probably don't even think about it at other times.
I think a few month’s delay in getting paid is a bit steep.
Can’t you politely ask them to step it up?
Wil / 5:01pm / 21 June 2006
They know it’s a bit of an issue. But I think ultimately it’s more important for them to pay suppliers on time than me.
Ryan / 5:10pm / 21 June 2006
you’ve got to wonder if their business is actually viable
chris / 7:35pm / 21 June 2006
…because it takes longer to transfer larger amounts of money?
Wil / 9:51pm / 21 June 2006
It’s very interesting, because they generate so much value for customers, but always seem to struggle.
Perhaps I tend to always get paid with the money from my next job rather than the current one. I don’t think they match revenues and costs up that closely, although they’re trying harder to do that of late.
The other issue is that I’m not convinced I actually make them any money. Although presumably they must think so, or they’d stop asking me to do stuff.
Ryan / 10:16pm / 21 June 2006