Why Does My Final Payslip Look Different?

If you’ve left your job, your final pay might look a bit different to your usual pay, and it’s important to understand why. Certain elements play a big role in shaping your final earnings, so let’s delve into the common reasons.

What to Check on Your Final Payslip

When you receive your final payslip, it’s important to check that everything is correct and you’ve received all the money you’re owed, as calculating a final payslip can be complex. You should check:

  • The number of hours you’ve worked
  • Any holiday pay you’re owed
  • Any notice or redundancy pay you were expecting
  • Any sick pay you were expecting
  • Any maternity, paternity, adoption, or parental leave you were expecting
  • Any overtime, commission, or bonuses you were expecting

You should also make sure no deductions have been made that you weren’t expecting. In this instance, you should bring this up to your employer. As an employee or worker, you have a legal right to a payslip to show how your pay has been worked out.

Common Reasons Your Final Payslip is Different

Holiday Pay

Your holiday pay reflects the compensation you receive for accrued and unused annual leave days. When you leave a job, any remaining holiday days you haven’t taken will usually be converted into monetary value and reflected in your final payslip.

Redundancy Pay

Redundancy pay is given to you if your position has been made redundant by your employer. The pay that is received is calculated based on the length of service, age, and any additional terms in your contract. Redundancy pay is often a lump sum in addition to your normal wage.

Deductions

There are certain deductions that can be reflected in your final payslip, these might include:

  • Holidays you’ve taken but weren’t entitled to based on when your holiday allowance starts and when you leave
  • Contractual maternity pay if you didn’t go back to work after getting extra maternity pay
  • Fees for courses paid for by your employer
  • Loans from your employer

However, the only time your employer can take money from your final payslip without an agreement is for wages that you were previously overpaid.

Sick Pay

Sick pay refers to when you are unable to work due to illness or injury. If you’re sick during your notice period, you might be entitled to sick pay or your normal pay. You can work out if you have been paid sick pay correctly, or you can speak to a professional to help.

Settling Disputes Over Final Pay

If you’re not happy with your final pay and believe it isn’t correct. You can first contact your employer to discuss the issues and see where the problem lies. Often, these issues are a simple misunderstanding.

However, if you aren’t satisfied with the results of the meeting, you could contact an employment law solicitor for advice or mediation.

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