HR sends email announcing salary will be delayed and then calls it a 'patience-building initiative'

If you work in a corporation or as a salaried individual, payday is sometimes the only motivation that keeps one going. Employees cannot wait to get their salary in their hands, and it really is quite the reinforcer to amp up work. So you can only imagine if it is delayed, how frustrating, demotivating, and distressing it can be. A man named Parth shared a post on LinkedIn revealing his creative email to announce a delayed salary credit. He rephrased the event as a “patience-building initiative” that left employees across the platform agitated. While he intended to send the message out of sarcasm, it highlighted the plight of many for whom this is a reality. u/npatyal shared the post on Reddit on November 18.

The man mentioned in his post that he decided to inform the employees about a salary delay via email. He noted that while apologizing for the lack of punctuality, he also got creative with the message. “But I also added, it’s not a delay, it’s character development. Because we’re not a company; we’re a spiritual startup, teaching patience through payroll,” he mentioned. He even went as far as to call his approach a “mindful” one. He shared a screenshot of an email that read, “Salary won’t be credited today. We're not calling it a delay anymore, it’s a patient-building initiative.” 

Keka shared that a survey was conducted for employees by SD Worx, A Global HR And Payroll Service Provider. It was revealed that out of 4,000 employees, 44% received their salaries late. From this category, 48% received incorrect amounts. No one wants to have to go through the hassle of fighting for their salary when they have gone above and beyond to work hard and earn it. Lack of payroll efficiency is affecting the performance of employees. Jan Van Mol, Head of Global Alliance at SD Worx, noted, “An increasing number of employees are becoming actively disengaged in their workplace due to late or incorrect payments.”

The frustrating email further read, “Remember, growth doesn’t only happen with revenue, it also happens with waiting,” further pushing the buttons of several struggling employees. Though Parth’s post was intended to be sarcastic, as he clarified in a comment, it resonated with many employees. It points out how crucial timely pay is — not just for a receiver but also the company. Gautam Bhuyan, an HR leader, perfectly encapsulated the importance of a timely salary. “Delaying salaries might appear to be a ‘temporary adjustment’ on paper, but in reality, it’s a silent erosion of trust. The monthly salary is not just a transaction — it’s the assurance of stability, dignity, and respect that an employee earns through hard work and commitment,” he said.

The man explained that for many employees, their pay is for survival, not just savings, and they’re dependent on its punctuality. Delays can become “breeding ground for disengagement.” Bhuyan further explained, “Productivity dips not because people become lazy, but because they lose faith. Morale drops, resentment brews, and the best talent quietly begins to plan their exit.” He mentioned that even though problems arise with management, clients, and the market, the company should take the onus of ensuring that there is transparency about it. “The day an organization delays salaries, it also delays its own progress,” he remarked.

Many people commented, expressing their frustration with sugar-coating delays. Jarred Teo wrote, “Well, there are employees who need to put food on the table for themselves and for their kids. Their hunger can't wait.” Souhayb Merhi added, “Perhaps they also need to delay the work! Sorry PATIENCE-BUILDING INITIATIVE for the workplace.” 

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