payroll padding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "payroll padding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing fraudulent practices where employees are added to payrolls or hours are inflated to increase costs unlawfully. Example: "The audit revealed significant payroll padding, leading to a loss of thousands of dollars for the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The result of all that payroll padding, said several speakers, is that Westchester residents increasingly can't afford taxes on their homes.

The New York Times

He was the lead prosecutor in the Abscam case against former Representative John W. Jenrette, and he also successfully prosecuted two other congressmen, Charles C. Diggs Jr. and James Hastings, for payroll padding and kickbacks.

The New York Times

How a Spanish construction company immersed itself in the world of big-ticket New York City public works projects — where federal sting operations and payroll padding scandals can be as common as the heavy machinery used to bore tunnels under Manhattan's sidewalks — carries the whiff of an episode of "The Sopranos".

The New York Times

The inclusion of "ghost" soldiers allowed massive payroll padding; ration allowances were kept by the officers while their men starved; and the sale of arms and ammunition on the black market (or to the enemy) was commonplace.

Wikipedia

During the period 1974 1975, FANK forces officially grew from 100,000 to approximately 250,000 men, but probably only numbered around 180,000 due to payroll padding by their officers and due to desertions.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Indeed, for most of the last 150 years, urban schools have been consumed less by controversies about instruction than by issues like payroll-padding.

The New York Times

It may just be that businesses have not yet regained enough confidence in the economy to rehire workers, opting to find ways to contain costs without padding payrolls.

Forbes

If nothing else, padding the payroll with campaign loyalists hardly sets an example for city workers living under a budget-slashing guillotine.

The New York Times

When he discovered that the Minister of Defense, the Tajik warlord Mohammed Fahim, was padding his payroll with tens of thousands of "ghost" troops, Ghani slashed Fahim's budget.

The New Yorker

Consumers cut debt after the 2008 financial crisis, this year's federal payroll tax cut is padding incomes, and consumers are adjusting to a labor market that appears to be stabilizing.

The New York Times

Patronage pads the payroll.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "payroll padding", clearly specify the context of the fraud or mismanagement to avoid ambiguity. For example, indicate who is responsible and what the consequences are.

Common error

Avoid using "payroll padding" to describe standard payroll adjustments like raises or bonuses. "Payroll padding" specifically refers to fraudulent activities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "payroll padding" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in contexts discussing financial fraud. For example, it describes actions related to inflating employee compensation illegitimately.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "payroll padding" refers to the fraudulent inflation of payroll expenses, often through adding ghost employees or exaggerating work hours. Ludwig AI validates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English, albeit with limited occurrence. It is most frequently used in news and wiki contexts to describe instances of financial mismanagement or corruption. When using this phrase, specify the context clearly to avoid confusion with legitimate payroll adjustments. Alternatives include "inflated payroll" and "payroll fraud".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Inflated payroll

Focuses on the result of the padding, highlighting the increased amount.

Payroll fraud

Emphasizes the fraudulent nature of the activity.

Ghost employees

Refers specifically to the inclusion of nonexistent employees on the payroll.

Padding the payroll

A verbal form of the original phrase. Focuses on the act of increasing the payroll unlawfully.

Inflating labor costs

Broader term that includes "payroll padding" but may also include other cost manipulations.

Wage theft

Related concept focusing on the loss of wages, not necessarily through payroll manipulation.

Skimming wages

Suggests that wages are being siphoned off illegitimately.

Falsifying payroll records

Highlights the act of altering the documents rather than the effect itself.

Manipulating employee compensation

A more generic alternative, includes a broad range of unlawful strategies related to employees pays.

Financial misappropriation of salary funds

Formal phrase indicating the embezzlement through salaries and wages.

FAQs

What does "payroll padding" mean?

"Payroll padding" refers to the fraudulent act of adding fictitious employees or inflating employee hours to increase payroll costs unlawfully.

What are some alternatives to "payroll padding"?

You can use alternatives like "inflated payroll", "payroll fraud", or "ghost employees" to convey similar meanings.

How is "payroll padding" different from a regular increase in payroll expenses?

"Payroll padding" involves illegal and unethical practices, whereas a regular increase in payroll expenses is typically due to legitimate factors like hiring more employees or giving raises.

In what contexts is the term "payroll padding" typically used?

The term "payroll padding" is typically used in discussions of government corruption, financial fraud, and mismanagement within organizations.