This Person Gets A Well-Paying Job, But Their Paycheck Was Only Half, and Their Boss Said It Was a Typo

A new library job was supposed to be a step up, but the first paycheck told a very different story. Instead of the $20 an hour listed in the offer letter, this worker found out the company was only paying half that amount.

The situation got even messier when the manager and HR both claimed the higher rate was just a typo, even though the employee had already signed the document. With no backup job and a need for experience, the choice was suddenly between walking away or pushing back.

Now the question is whether this was a simple mistake or a very convenient one. Read on.

The question was posted to Reddit:

u/eirfair on Reddit Hi everyone. Please let me know if I should post this anywhere else.I have a master’s degree in Library Science that I obtained in May. I’ve been looking for a librarian position since then. I still haven’t found anything, though I’ve applied to many. I thought I would take a library associate job in the meantime (it’s a paraprofessional role and doesn’t require any degree).

Initially, the manager told me it would pay $10/hr, which is obviously horrific. I still went through with the interview and was offered the job verbally. I accepted, though I wasn’t certain if I would go through with it. However, once I received my offer letter, it stated I would be paid $20/hr. It’s still low for a librarian, but I thought it was a huge step up, and I signed the document accepting this rate and taking the job. I figured they took my degree into account and decided to pay me more appropriately.

That's where the trouble started.

Yesterday, I received my first paycheck. It was half of what it was supposed to be. I asked the woman who hired me what was going on, and she stated that no, I was supposed to be paid that amount. I’m working for $10/hr. I asked her how that was possible when I signed a document from HR stating I would be paid $20/hr. Since then, I have spoken with her and HR, who both firmly deny that I will be paid that amount and insist it was a typo/error on their part.I don’t really know what to do at this point. They really messed up, and I know they’re aware of the fact-the HR woman said we can take this a step higher and get her boss involved. I have no idea what to expect, except probably a lot of empty apologies and “corrective action will be taken.”

Which is where the advice comes in! Quit or fight?

The easiest course would be to simply quit. I don’t have a backup job, though, and as garbage as the pay is, it’s better than nothing. I need the experience in a library, and I get full-time hours here.What would you all do? I welcome advice or comments. (There is not a union, by the way.)Thank you.

People were quick to weigh in.

Also, this echoes the sibling with secret side income, and whether to demand bigger bill payments.

This person had the same thing happen to them, and the employer decided to find someone else to screw over

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Corporate ghosting is real

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Technically, there's a contract involved

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There's some discrepancy about whether it counts as a contract or not?

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This is great advice

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It's also a good idea to email this information so that there is a paper trail

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All the advice boils down to: get a lawyer!

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So, unfortunately, it seems to be a super common problem; there is, sadly, a massive trend of people being severely underpaid by their jobs and then getting completely ghosted by the company when they try to stand up for themselves. If there is one thing that you should take away from this post, it is that you should know your worth and stand up for yourself when you notice a problem, especially since if it isn’t you that they are exploiting, it will just be someone else. What do you make of this, and do you have any different advice? Find the full thread here and don't forget to tell us your thoughts in the comments.

Nobody wants a paycheck surprise like that.

Want more paycheck drama? Read about a roommate pocketing months of rent money and the repayment fight.