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uk Work & employment crises

What to do if…
your overtime or shift premiums are missing from your pay

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Match your rota, timesheet, and approvals to your payslip, write down what is missing, then ask payroll or your manager to correct it in writing and give you a payment date.

Do not do these things

  • Do not assume it will sort itself out next payday without written confirmation of what will be paid and when.
  • Do not sign anything that re-labels your hours, lowers your rate, or backdates a change unless you understand it.
  • Do not change future timesheets to compensate for this pay period.
  • Do not send heated messages; keep it factual so it stays a payroll and timekeeping issue.
  • Do not quit on the spot if you can avoid it; first secure the evidence and ask for the pay correction.

What to do now

  1. Save the evidence for this pay period: download or screenshot your payslip, rota, clock-in and clock-out record, timesheet, overtime approval, and any message confirming the shift premium.
  2. Make a short “what is missing” list: include the pay period, date of each shift, start and finish time, overtime or premium expected, amount actually paid, and your best estimate of the shortfall.
  3. Check what should trigger the extra pay: look at your contract, written statement, handbook, or pay policy for overtime rates, night work, weekend or bank holiday premiums, cut-off dates, approval rules, and pay codes.
  4. Keep National Minimum Wage in mind: employers do not always have to pay extra for overtime unless the contract or policy says so, but your average pay for the total hours worked must not fall below National Minimum Wage.
  5. Ask payroll or your manager two things in writing: why the pay is missing, such as a missed approval, cut-off date, wrong pay code, or timecard error; and when it will be corrected. Ask whether an off-cycle correction is possible if waiting would cause hardship.
  6. Turn any verbal answer into a record: send a short recap, such as “To confirm, the missing premium is due to X and will be paid on Y date.” Keep a copy outside any workplace system if you may lose access.
  7. If you are an agency worker, check the 12-week point: after the 12-week qualifying period on the same assignment at the same hiring organisation, agency workers generally have the right to equal treatment on pay. This can include overtime pay and shift or unsocial-hours allowances if comparable direct employees receive them.
  8. If it is not fixed quickly, do not let the time limit drift: unpaid or underpaid wages can have strict employment tribunal time limits, often 3 months minus 1 day from when you should have been paid, or from the last underpayment if it happened more than once. Contact Acas early conciliation before the deadline if you may need that route.
  9. If the underpayment may take you below National Minimum Wage: say this clearly when you raise it. You can use the HMRC pay and work rights route for minimum wage concerns, and ask Acas or HMRC which route fits if you are unsure.
  10. If the employer is insolvent or has stopped trading: ask the insolvency practitioner or official receiver for the CN case reference and check the GOV.UK insolvency route. Employees can usually apply for unpaid wages and other contractual money owed, including overtime, subject to the scheme rules and caps.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether to take legal action; first secure the evidence and request a written correction.
  • You do not need to build a long spreadsheet right now; start with the affected pay period.
  • You do not need to confront senior leadership immediately; start with payroll or your manager, then use the workplace route if needed.
  • You do not need to argue the whole pay system today; focus on what your contract or policy says and what was actually worked.

Important reassurance

Missing overtime or shift premiums can happen because of cut-offs, wrong pay codes, missed approvals, or systems not syncing. You are not overreacting by pausing, documenting it, and asking for a written correction with a date.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Later decisions may need specialist help from Acas, a union representative, an employment adviser, or another suitable professional, especially if the underpayment repeats or your status is unclear.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, or professional advice. Your options can depend on your contract, whether you are an employee, worker, contractor, or agency worker, and what the workplace policy says about overtime and premiums.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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