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uk Work & employment crises

What to do if…
your pay does not arrive on payday

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

Short answer

Contact payroll, HR, or your manager now and ask them to confirm whether payment was sent, how it was sent, and when you will actually receive it. Ask for the answer in writing and keep your own record.

Do not do these things

  • Do not leave it for days without raising it.
  • Do not quit on the spot or send an angry message you cannot take back.
  • Do not accept an off-payroll or undocumented workaround just to get money quickly.
  • Do not share bank logins, one-time codes, or passwords with anyone who offers to “track” the payment.
  • Do not sign anything about deductions, reduced pay, or repayment without reading it carefully and getting advice if you are unsure.

What to do now

  1. Confirm the agreed payday and pay period. Check your contract, written statement, offer letter, rota confirmation, or pay schedule. Note whether this is your first pay, you recently changed bank details, your hours changed, or timesheets or overtime needed approval.
  2. Check your bank side carefully. Look for a pending credit, rejected payment notice, or delayed incoming transfer. Check the sort code and account number payroll should be using.
  3. Contact payroll, HR, or your manager straight away. Ask three things: whether payment was issued, how it was issued, and when it should reach you. Ask for any payment reference they can provide.
  4. Ask what can be done today. If payroll confirms an error or failed transfer, ask whether they can re-issue the payment, make an emergency or manual payment, or use another documented process your employer already has.
  5. Create a simple written timeline. Save emails, messages, screenshots, payslips, bank notices, timesheets, rota records, and any pay agreement. Write down the date and time of each conversation, who you spoke to, what they said, and the promised pay date or method.
  6. Ask for your payslip or itemised pay information if it is missing. If you are entitled to a payslip, it should usually be provided on or before payday. If you have a payslip but no money, or the figures do not match, ask payroll to confirm what was processed for basic pay, overtime, commission, expenses, and deductions.
  7. Use your workplace route if you have one. If you are in a union, contact your rep or steward and ask them to raise an urgent pay issue through the agreed workplace process.
  8. If you do not get a clear answer, raise it formally in writing. Follow any internal pay dispute or grievance process. If there is no clear process, email HR, payroll, and your manager with what is missing, the pay period, what you have already checked, and what you are asking for now.
  9. Get external advice early if it is not fixed. Acas can explain options and next steps. The Acas helpline is 0300 123 1100, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Some unpaid wages claims have strict time limits, commonly 3 months minus 1 day from when you should have been paid, so do not wait until the deadline is close.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether to make a legal claim.
  • You do not need to confront senior leadership or argue with colleagues today.
  • You do not need to resign today.
  • You do not need to solve every bill or debt problem at once; first focus on confirming what happened to your pay and getting the clearest written next step.

Important reassurance

It is understandable to feel panicked when pay does not arrive, especially if bills are due. Many missing-pay situations are payroll, approval, or bank-detail errors. Staying factual, asking for a clear payment date, and keeping records gives you a stronger position and a clearer next step.

Scope note

These are first steps to stabilise the situation, get clear information quickly, and avoid irreversible moves. If the problem repeats, your employer refuses to pay, or deductions are disputed, later decisions may need specialist employment, union, debt, or legal help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, employment, or professional advice. Employment situations vary, and time limits can apply, so get timely independent advice if you think you may need to escalate.

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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