Written By Larry Beebe
Bond Beebe
P: 301.272.6025 E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Delaying Tactics Once You Arrive

You arrive for your scheduled payroll audit at 9:00.  The employer makes you wait for a half an hour and then suggests coffee which takes more time.  The employer then says he/she has seen the list of records requested and takes hours to produce them one by one.  You are told that lunch is from 11:30 to 1:00 and you have to leave.  You are them reminded that quitting time is 4:00 PM and you will have to be out.  Clearly, the employer is trying to delay your accomplishment of the payroll audit. 

You should be able to see this coming.  You cannot prevent the first delay.  But you can refuse coffee and you could have confirmed with the employer last week that the requested records were being set aside and were available to you.  Tell the employer you can work through lunch and that quitting at 4:00 PM may not be acceptable to you.  The employer may not be happy with you, but may start cooperating.

As soon as you suspect delaying tactics are being used, you should document the time of each occurrence and an estimate of how much time each delay cost you.  This document will make interesting reading for find counsel and may help collect audit costs when assessed as a result of the audit.

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