Getting Paid . . . Eventually . . . After Having to Ask

Throughout 2008, we had an interesting, uh, adventure in hiring, before we found our infrastructure queen, Kate Williams. Kate is blogging the Insider View, as previously self-employed and now working with us. I expect that she’s going to embarrass the crumb out of me. The intention, however, is to be as transparent in our business as possible, so you can learn what really works (and what really doesn’t.)

Getting Paid . . . Eventually . . . After Having to Ask . . .

Mark and I have a few things in common like writing, short hair, biking, and having a paper route as kids. What we don’t have in common is the way we get paid.

The Dreaded Door to Door Experience

In 1970 (I was nine years old) there weren’t many girls with paper routes, but it didn’t stop me from loading up those canvas shoulder bags and heading out on my blue Schwinn, souped-up with a  banana seat and high handle bars. I loved the challenge of pedaling, steering, and flinging the paper with just the right spin and velocity to hit the front porch.

Although it was having to throw papers at 6 a.m. on Christmas morning that ultimately ended my news career, having to go door to door each month asking for money was what seriously took the thrill out of my first job. After knocking, I’d pray that no one would answer the door. When they did, it took great will for me to put one word sensibly in front of the other or to even make eye contact.

(For the record, the biggest protest I could muster against the injustice of having to throw papers on Christmas morning was to do it with my pajamas on.)

As you might suspect, I’ve battled some with shyness and self-esteem over the years. And without catching me in a particularly intimate or vulnerable moment these days, you might never guess at my painfully timid past.

My Paycheck?

Since the paper route, I’ve been handed checks, mailed checks, had them dropped in in-boxes, directly bank deposited, and given trade. I’ve been paid by the hour, on salary, and by the job. I’ve received raises, bonuses, and tips. I’ve contracted, invoiced, billed, and filed patient insurance claims . . .

At Heart of Business, for a whole host of reasons including the pulls of adoption and business growing pains, I’ve found myself back at that door collecting. My words come out clearly now, and I can usually make solid eye contact, but that solar-plexus grip and adrenalin spirt thing hangs on in perpetuity.

It’s the 5th and I’m thinking, “Oh, I don’t want to have to ask for my paycheck again. Please, please remember this time.” On this particular morning, Mark says at the end of a meeting, “Oh yeah and I don’t want to forget to give you your check before you go today.”

Relief. “Thanks”

We’re wrapping up at the end of the day, I’m standing in the door of Mark’s office with my coat on talking about a few last things. “Paycheck, paycheck, paycheck,” I try to send it to his mind telepathically. Nothing.

“Hey Mark, could you write out my check?” My voice catches a little, but I doubt he notices.

“Oh my God,” his hand flies to his forehead. “I can’t believe I forgot, I’m soo sorry.”

“It’s OK.” The good girl in me chuckles at the same time as I have an empathic body flush from Mark’s embarrassment. Crazy how many people’s feelings can merge in me at the same time.

Other times I’ve just waited and received my checks several days late for one good reason or another.

When All You Can Do Is Laugh

Then came the babies–a month early. In 24 hours Mark and Holly were on a plane to Ohio. It was the day after the meeting where we firmly committed to preparing for when they would be leaving for Ohio . . . in a month or six weeks. Hah! Oh, how not in charge we are of our fate.

At the beginning of December, Mark is out of checks. I send him checks realizing that again there’s no way I’ll see my 5th of the month check on time. Around the 8th Mark let’s me know that he sent my check, and I’m grateful, hoping it will get here in time to pay my half of the mortgage on the 10th or so. The check doesn’t come and doesn’t come.

Mark, exasperated, offers to send it to my PayPal account. I remember that PayPal takes money out, which adds to my frustration, which then trips over into my “that’s petty” voice (they’ve included a bonus that would absorb the cost), which trips over to my “wait a minute, why should I be penalized here?” victim voice. And around it goes. The money is transferred only for me to send it to a bank account that fails its confirmation test.

The money still hasn’t successfully transferred into my bank account. The good news: the check Mark sent on the 8th finally showed up on the 16th. I’ll be able to deposit it tomorrow–the next payday.

Give Yourself Slack and a System

You’re probably used to feast or famine, taking a draw as you can with no set date for writing that check. And I suspect most checks you write in a month are connected to invoices or they’re automatic.

Find a system to tickle your brain, or don’t hesitate to engage your employee in finding the best solution for your situation. Although you now have someone relying on you and your business to support them as they are supporting you, solopreneur to small business requires some flexibility on everyone’s part.

Here are some things to consider that will smooth out the transition:

• Talk with your employee about their financial obligations so that they’re real for you. You don’t have to remember the details, but let the conversation lead you to feeling empathy. That’s always a genuine motivator. Until this last pay check lost in the mail debacle, Mark didn’t know that my mortgage was due on the 15th. His is due on the first.

• If your employee gets paid the same amount each month, consider prewriting the checks and setting a payment alarm on your calendar. If you pay them on the 5th and 20th, write the paycheck for the 20th on the 5th, so your always a paycheck ahead.

• If you really want to make it easy for you and your employee and they’re are interested, talk to your accountant about setting up direct deposit. Remember, you would still need to give your employee their pay stub.

While you’re remembering to cut your employee’s check, cut yourself some slack. Conversations that expose your inexperience can be tough, but they will only deepen you and your employee’s trust and confidence in each other. It’s a learning process, and like the hiring process, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable with your employee, to make mistakes and find solutions.