Are UK shift workers going underpaid and undervalued thanks to ‘pay slip ups?’
UKG data highlights payroll minefield impacting frontline worker happiness and culture, with 60% thinking they have been underpaid and 44% concerned they have missed overtime pay.
The UK’s frontline shift workers are experiencing ‘pay slip ups’ with 60% believing that they are missing earned pay, 38% saying they are being paid late, and 23% claiming they are not receiving their pay slips. Research by workforce management and HR services company, UKG highlights the challenges of managing the complexity of fast-paced shift work and the need for shift planning and payroll to be better connected in real-time to ensure accuracy.
The survey, conducted by Censuswide in August 2024 among 1,000 shift workers in the UK, found that nearly half (47%) of frontline workers believe that their changing shift patterns make it hard to keep track of hours worked and know if their pay is accurate. 44% believe that overtime is missed or not recorded and 36% blame inaccurate capture and recording of worked hours by their employer – all of which is resulting in them getting paid less than they’re owed. As a result, half (49%) are checking their payslips for accuracy more than once a month.
While getting paid correctly and on time is more important than anything else to shift workers’ happiness in the job, only 63% cited this as a top factor in their job contentment, suggesting that for many, work is about more than the pay. A good working culture/colleague relationships was important for 48%, flexibility and work/life balance was key for 43%, and having a good manager who respects them crucial to 38%, showing the importance of culture in frontline sectors.
The complexity of shift work makes it difficult for 43% to work out if their pay is correct. But rather than turn to HR or the payroll department to resolve issues, over half (52%) compare their pay slips with colleagues to try and work out if their pay is accurate. This may be because 36% say they have struggled to get an answer from payroll/HR when they think their pay is wrong.
“With over 3.5 million people in the UK doing shift work the challenges of managing the complexity of their payroll is huge. Only 12% of the 1,000 frontline workers we surveyed haven’t taken any action with their payroll, so we can assume that 88% have felt the need to check or share something to do with their pay. Many workers in this sector simply feel that things are out of their control and ownership is in the hands of the employer. We need to change this. Payroll is part of the problem, when it should be part of the solution of keeping employees engaged, happy and productive,” comments Neil Pickering, Senior Manager Human Insights at UKG.
Pickering added: “Shiftwork-based industries such as manufacturing, retail and 3PL are seeing vast changes to supply chain dynamics and consumer demand, making working patterns more volatile and varied. But there is no excuse for inaccurate and confusing pay – businesses must ensure they have the technology in place to make the planning, monitoring, and execution of work more efficient, effective and engaging for everyone, by simplifying processes for scheduling, shift swapping and the monitoring of worked hours against employment contracts.
The impact of perceived pay slip inaccuracies is also causing financial challenges for workers. 14% have had to use a payday loan to make up for late or inaccurate pay.
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