Payroll Overpayments Policy

Amended: 8/22/23

Provided by: Office of the Controller, Department of Finance

Related Links and Resources

• Postdoctoral Scholars Handbook
• Conflict of Interest Policy
• Code of Conduct
• Repayment

This policy applies to all staff, temporary staff, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, or any other members of the Tufts community who are paid directly by Tufts University’s payroll department, whether hired contractually or who work under faculty or postdoctoral scholar handbooks, or who are otherwise covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

All faculty, staff and student workers have an affirmative responsibility to review their pay checks and report any overpayment to Tufts Support Services (TSS) and to repay any funds not due to them. It is the practice of Tufts University to recover payroll overpayments, which are any inadvertent payments made through payroll to which you are not entitled. TSS is responsible for calculating and informing you of amounts due back to Tufts University as a result of an inadvertent overpayment. Upon recognition of an overpayment, TSS will work with you to arrange the repayment to the university.

Overpayments, including post-termination overpayments, due to intentional misrepresentation of hours worked or accrued are considered to constitute an ethical violation and may be classified as a fraudulent act. Faculty, staff, and students who intentionally misrepresent hours worked are subject to discipline, up to and including immediate discharge, and criminal prosecution. 

Tufts Support Services (TSS) can be contacted via email at TSS@Tufts.edu.