How to Handle Employee Unrest Over Late Payments in a BPO Setting?

Hello Sir/Madam, If in any month, due to some reason, we are late in payment, and employees are making it a big issue and deny entering the premises. After discussions, they agree to work, but they are not performing their duties normally. They are misbehaving, not achieving daily targets, and involving other employees in not completing the targets. As my organization is a BPO (back-end process), they are trying to form a union.

What should I do in this condition with those employees?

Regards, Shobhana Bhati HR

Ensure Timely Payment Disbursement

Ensure timely payment disbursement. If you allow defaults in monthly payments on a regular basis, morale will decrease, leading to potential discontentment.

Regards,
Pon

Hello Shobhana, try to resolve that by telling them about some problems facing the company. For example, when an employee joins an organization, they become a part of the family. Just like in a family, if there are problems, they are managed. Similarly, if the company pays salaries to employees promptly every month, they can also handle any arising issues.

Thanks for the guidance. But my question is, if they are not working and are sitting idly, as well as if they are misbehaving with their TLs and supervisor, what should I do with these employees?

Regards,
Shobhana

Hello Sushmita, thanks for your guidance. Yesterday, we followed the same approach, and finally, the situation is under control. Thanks to all for your valuable suggestions.

Regards,
Shobhana Bhati

I would like to highlight your words "If in any month...," what do you mean by this term? How many days of delay are you expecting? Many companies follow a certain cutoff date for closing attendance and preparing salaries. As you are aware, salaries won't be disbursed in a single day without checking and closing attendance for all employees. That implies the delay was expected and has been planned in advance.

In such cases, the finance department or HR should circulate an internal memo to all employees through possible channels about this delay in salary disbursement. However, if you are still unaware of the date of disbursement, take a tentative date from the finance department and provide it to employees.

Employee Financial Planning and Stress

As you are aware, every individual plans their financial budget in advance of payday. When they learn that the salary is going to be delayed, you can understand their frustration regarding their personal commitments. This is human tendency, especially in Indian social life; such situations cause people mental stress and lead to a lack of concentration. So, this behavior is expected from them.

Organizing a Meeting

Hence, I agree with the suggestion given by our member SUSHMITA that you should organize a meeting with both parties. Giving fake excuses, such as the company is going through problems or we are in trouble, will not work. However, as she mentioned, the result of the meeting should be communicated in a motivated, well-explained, and convincing manner.

In the future, I would recommend circulating an early notice if you foresee such delays.

Regards

Hello Mr. Anil, only this month, we got late because of a few internal reasons. Our salary date is fixed for every month, i.e., between the 7th and 10th of each month, we usually issue salaries. However, this month, we were delayed by 3 days, and we have already informed our employees about it, even though they did not appreciate that.

Thank you for your suggestions and guidance.

Regards,
Shobhana