Any member of the professional world will know how awkward it is to have to remind your boss to pay your salary.
However, one should never be deterred from seeking the funds owed to them at work!
In this article, we’ll show you how to politely remind your boss to pay you in an email using 6 distinct phrases.
6 Polite Ways to Remind Your Boss to Pay You
Below, you’ll find 6 different ways to politely ask for your salary in an email:
- I haven’t received my paycheck
- As of today, I have still not been paid
- I’m still waiting for my paycheck
- Just a polite reminder
- My salary is overdue
- I am still owed
1. I Haven’t Received My Paycheck
If you’re wondering how to ask for your paycheck politely, the first phrase on our list is sure to help!
The phrase I haven’t received my paycheck is more of a statement than a question. This is appropriate since your salary belongs to you and you shouldn’t have to beg for it.
It will suffice to simply let your boss know that you haven’t received the paycheck owed to you.
This statement does not place any blame on anyone for this error. It simply states the facts and will bring the problem to your boss’s attention without being overly demanding.
Moreover, this phrase is suitable in any professional setting, as it uses plain and clear words to express your problem.
Check out this email sample to see what we mean:
Dear Angelica,
I hope this email finds you well.
I am reaching out because I haven’t received my paycheck from last month.
Can you look into this?
Kind regards,
Charlayne
2. As of Today, I Have Still Not Been Paid
If you work as a subcontractor and have a less rigid contractual relationship with your employer, you can generally get away with more casual phrasing in your emails.
Therefore, you can simply remind your boss to pay your fees with the phrase as of today, I have still not been paid.
Like the phrase above, this alternative is indirect. Rather than accusing your boss of failing to pay you, it simply points out that you have not yet been paid.
When using this phrase, we recommend that you keep the tone of your email as friendly as possible, especially if you want to keep being given work by the receiver!
Consider this email example:
Dear Theodore,
Hope you’re keeping well!
I just wanted to point out that, as of today, I have still not been paid my overtime fee for last month’s project.
Can we get this sorted out?
All the best,
Cory
3. I’m Still Waiting for My Paycheck
I’m still waiting for my paycheck is another indirect phrase that will let your boss know they have made an error without being accusatory.
You can use this phrase in any work setting, including that of a large office or even a relatively small business.
Essentially, this alternative suggests that your payment is late. But, it does not express any impatience or frustration.
This makes it a safe choice in general. Just make sure to keep the rest of your email cordial!
For example:
Dear Miss Curiel,
I would be happy to get to work on this.
However, I’m still waiting for my paycheck from last week.
Could we address this before I get started?
Kind regards,
Jesse Swain
4. Just a Polite Reminder
A great example of how to politely ask for money from your boss is with the phrase just a polite reminder.
This phrase comes across as friendly and relaxed. However, it still maintains a suitably professional tone of voice.
In particular, the use of “just” implies that your request is not frantic or urgent. However, you would still like the receiver of your email to take note of something.
This alternative is great for a corporate setting in which a charming and professional register is preferred at all times.
However, it is a very versatile option and will work in any other work setting as well.
Let’s see this phrase in a sample email:
Hi Lucinda,
Just a polite reminder about my salary for last month.
It still hasn’t appeared in my account.
Many thanks for any assistance in this matter.
Kind regards,
Leiomy
5. My Salary Is Overdue
My salary is overdue is another very effective way to let your boss know that they owe you some money.
Like all the other phrases on our list, this synonym is suitable because it states the facts without pointing the finger at any person in particular.
This makes it a safe choice regardless of your industry or position in the company.
Moreover, if you keep the rest of your email light and polite, you will avoid sounding angry or frustrated when you use this phrase.
Check out the email sample below:
Dear Mr. Keene,
I am writing to inform you that my salary is overdue by five days.
I assume there was some error on the payroll software, and I would greatly appreciate it if this could be resolved.
Kind regards.
Andre Woodard
6. I Am Still Owed
Our final example of how to ask your boss to pay you is the phrase I am still owed.
This phrase works very well if you are a subcontractor or receive payment based on the projects you complete at work as opposed to your hours spent in the workplace.
This phrase allows you to state out the exact amount due to you to avoid any unnecessary back-and-forth with your employer.
Moreover, this phrase is candid and to the point, which is ideal in professional correspondence about fees.
Have a look at how we’ve used this phrase in our final email example:
Dear Damaris,
As a reminder, I am still owed $750 for the previous project.
I would appreciate it if we could bring my fees up to date before I get started on the next.
Kind regards,
Patricia
Should You Remind Your Boss to Pay You?
You should absolutely remind your boss to pay you as soon as possible. No person should be made to work for free or struggle with their bills at home in spite of the work they do at their job.
It is by no means rude to remind your boss to pay you. After all, you are simply enforcing the terms of your employment contract!
You can do this by approaching your boss directly or the person responsible for issuing payments.
An email is a good place to start, but you can always make a phone call if you receive no prompt response.
In short, you have every right to contact your employer if they have fallen behind in paying your salary or fees.
Although you are entitled to your salary, you should always try to maintain a good rapport with your boss.
After all, your position at the workplace is not necessarily permanent, and you want to be the kind of employee who gets considered for promotions.
