I have never heard of this practice, I worked for Local Government and they paid you as little as possible, we used to get paid on the 15th of the month, two weeks behind two weks in front.  It was paid into the bank, if payday landed on a weekend(Sat/Sun) we got paid on the Friday before.  I was retired due to health two years ago, my pension is paid into the bank on the first of the month now. One month in front.