2008 Woodie Awards
Payday Peril: Once a month is not enough
Justin Lyman
Issue date: 11/20/03 Section: Opinions
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This past Friday many of us went through the same euphoria that happens around the 15th of every month-- Payday. Now those of us who do work study can purchase things that we need and perhaps even pay bills. Yeah, I know it's a dirty word, but they still have to be dealt with. I don't know about most of you, but where I come from employees expect to be paid more frequently than once a month.
Granted, there is no law requiring them to pay more frequently; however, they have paid students every two weeks in the past. I can see the position of the college when it comes to paying more frequently. Yes, they would actually have to spend more money in the forms of checks, time for accruing all hours worked, and the time spent in the business office filling it out, and from a business point- of- view more time equals more money that they have to spend.
There are many reasons for us to be paid more frequently though, one of the major ones being bill paying. I know many students around campus that are waiting until just before their bills are due on the 13th or so of the month before sending them out, hoping that the bill payment doesn't get to the credit card or cell phone companies before their money is in the account. Another major reason would be convenience. I, like a couple of other students I know, have already spent the majority of (if not all) the Muskie Money that I have received, and being low on meals, I need some other way to obtain food.
Don't think that what our school does with the pay schedule is the same around the country, let alone around the state. At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater they get paid more frequently than we do, but it's a little strange according to a student that I am acquainted with. They get paid every three weeks. Yes, that would make things a little different, and it would allow us to be paid more often. At Clark University in Worchester, Massachusetts they get paid every two weeks. Kansas State University also pays every two weeks. So there are alternatives to the current pay system that we have.
I know that the faculty and staff get paid every month right along with us. I was not able to get enough feedback from them on whether or not they would like a more frequent payday, so I can't speak for them. I'm not saying that a new pay system would have to be implemented right away, but the college should look into paying students and maybe the faculty and staff more often. Just think, the more money we have the more we could spend at the school store or the Muskie Mart.
Granted, there is no law requiring them to pay more frequently; however, they have paid students every two weeks in the past. I can see the position of the college when it comes to paying more frequently. Yes, they would actually have to spend more money in the forms of checks, time for accruing all hours worked, and the time spent in the business office filling it out, and from a business point- of- view more time equals more money that they have to spend.
There are many reasons for us to be paid more frequently though, one of the major ones being bill paying. I know many students around campus that are waiting until just before their bills are due on the 13th or so of the month before sending them out, hoping that the bill payment doesn't get to the credit card or cell phone companies before their money is in the account. Another major reason would be convenience. I, like a couple of other students I know, have already spent the majority of (if not all) the Muskie Money that I have received, and being low on meals, I need some other way to obtain food.
Don't think that what our school does with the pay schedule is the same around the country, let alone around the state. At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater they get paid more frequently than we do, but it's a little strange according to a student that I am acquainted with. They get paid every three weeks. Yes, that would make things a little different, and it would allow us to be paid more often. At Clark University in Worchester, Massachusetts they get paid every two weeks. Kansas State University also pays every two weeks. So there are alternatives to the current pay system that we have.
I know that the faculty and staff get paid every month right along with us. I was not able to get enough feedback from them on whether or not they would like a more frequent payday, so I can't speak for them. I'm not saying that a new pay system would have to be implemented right away, but the college should look into paying students and maybe the faculty and staff more often. Just think, the more money we have the more we could spend at the school store or the Muskie Mart.