Payroll can be very different for many of us, depending on our contracts, our line of works availability and so much more. Many of us can find ourselves in tough circumstances where payday can feel like years away and you have outgoing bills and expenses that need to be paid before payday and it can be incredibly hard to not end up having to resort to borrowing off of friends and family or worst of all, payday loans. If you've found yourself in this situation too many times, if a new or extra job isn't a desirable option for you then maybe it's time you have a conversation with your current employer? Here are the first steps to bring up the conversation.
Find the right contact
Your first step is finding the right person or department to discuss this with. You may be able to go directly to your boss or you may have to do it via your HR or Payroll department. If in doubt, just ask a trusted co-worker or read through your employee handbook. Someone or something will point you in the right direction.
Understand your company's policies
Some companies already have procedures in place to help financially aid their employees such as with their studies, with childcare or if they're from abroad, they can have support for helping to sponsor visas, fund housing expenses and more! Every company is different so before you plan on what to ask for, make sure to see what is already available. You might find something in place already for you. Your company may also have access to financial advisors or counselling so be sure to take any help you can get.
Explain your situation
Plan ahead what you will say once you secure your meeting to ask for financial help from your employer if what you need isn't already available. If you've been a loyal employee and are valued at your company, chances are, your employer will have sympathy towards you and your situation and will want to do this best to help you. Back up your request by the work you've already done and also, make sure to voice how much you value your role and position at the company and that you will really appreciate them doing this favour. This will show them that you're a dedicated employee.
Know exactly what you want to ask for
It's important to understand that asking for financial help from your employer is a different thing compared to asking them for a raise. Financial help is intended to be an aid during a time of struggle for you and asking for a wage advance can be a great help during such a time. Asking for a wage advance is simply getting the money you've earned across the month or the money you will be earning over a few months upfront rather than on your normal payday. Asking for this can be a huge help if you're currently in a financial struggle.
Also, make sure to assess the root cause of why this financial struggle is happening in the first place. You want to ultimately get to a stage where payday will cover everything you need so take some time to address the issues head-on.
