Money from job I didn't earn?

Sterica

So I've been working at Walmart for three years now, and I got paid this past Thursday. Thing is, I quit a month ago to go back to school. I don't recall ever paying into anything besides my health care, so I'm not sure what this is.

Any idea before I call up the place? It's almost $300.

Raneados

if might be back pay for something specific, or just general pay, jobs are frequently 2-4 weeks behind when they pay people, and you might have just gone a little bit into the next pay period

Sterica

I dunno, my last check was two weeks ago and for maybe 150 bucks at the most (only worked 20ish hours), so getting this is a bit weird.

MetroidZoid

Is your work like mine, where you get paid twice monthly, but your pay period is offset? For example, I get paid the 5th and 20th. The first paycheck covers the last month, specifically days 16-31. The next paycheck covers the beginning of the current month, days 5-15. So if you worked a little into the next pay period, you'd get the last paycheck. Shouldn't the check say on there for what it is? Hours or whatnot?

Esh

Call them and find out what it's for.

kedinik

In my experience it's surprisingly common for responsible employers to realize they actually owe you $XXX a few weeks after you've left.

Could be overestimated withholdings they were going to put towards payroll taxes / ss / etc, but are now returning to you.

You can call and ask them about it if you really want to know; I would bet on a polite accountant eventually explaining something along those lines.

Chu

Don't consider the money yours until you know- especially if you have direct deposit. Most major, non privileged agreements stipulate their ability to debit from your account any dues owed. So even if it's their mistake, if it is a mistake after all they can snatch the (maybe not there anymore) money in a day or a week- causing you to overdraft.

MushroomStick

Did you have any unused personal/sick/vacation/snow/etc. days? Some places will payout for unused paid time off days, depending on the type, when you leave.

Figgy

It's your vacation pay. Where do you live?

Here, employers must give a minimum of 3% in vacation pay, whether that's worked out through an actual pay increase or paid time off. For many jobs, they don't just add it to every check. They accumulate it until you say, "Hey, I want to cash in my vacation pay." Once you quit, they're legally obligated to give you that accumulated money.

Sterica

I live in VA, and my remaining vacation WOULD be roughly this much.

Darkewolfe

It's almost certainly a payout of your remaining vacation days.

ahava

Same thing happened with me and walmart when I quit. I got my last 'paycheck' and then about a month or so later some more money showed up.

if I remember right, there was seomthing on the paystub that mentioned it being vacation time that I had accrued and they were paying me for.

Give personnel a call and ask them. If your office was anything like mine, they'll be more than happy to talk to somebody that managed to escape.

TNTrooper

I left Wal-mart back in November 08 and I am still waiting for my final paycheck to go through collections and show up in the mail. I was only a part time worker and found out I was paying into a 401K when I left as well.

Chanus

Just call them and find out.

If you're entitled to the money, you get to keep it.

If not, they're going to come after it and you'll end up in bad shape if you don't have it anymore because you assumed it was cool and spent it.

Casual

For the love of god do not spend it until you're 100% certain it's yours. I've known a few people in this situation and more often than not someone in finance has cocked up and not got the memo you've left. Sooner or later they'll realize their mistake and come looking for it. One girl I know actually ended up on the hook for £800 because she saw extra money in her bank account and thought "shopping spree!".