>> In Work or Training >> Guide to Rights & Responsibilities >> Payslips

Most employees have a right to receive a payslip or pay statement from their employer at, or before, the time they get paid.

The rules that say you should get a payslip do not apply if you are:

• a police officer
  
• working at sea (applies to some jobs only).

Your employment contract, which sets out your conditions of employment, states the pay you will receive and when it will be paid.

You will normally be paid:

• weekly or monthly
  
• cash or your wage will go straight into a bank account. You are usually paid for the
  week(s) you have already worked, this is payment in arrears.

Your payslip will include:

• the name of the company or person you work for
  
• your name (the employee)
  
• your pay reference number
  
• the date you get paid - when the money will be given to you or go into your account
  
• gross pay = the amount you've earned before deductions, that is money taken off
  
• deductions - these are paid by all workers who earn over a certain amount, and include your:
  - national insurance contribution
  - income tax
  - student loan repayments.
  
• other deductions - your employer must ask your permission to make other deductions. These could include Union fees; some employees pay these directly out of their pay. Pension contributions may also be paid directly by your employer into a company scheme
  
• net pay = your 'take home pay', that is the money you have to live on.

You can get advice from:

Pay & Employment Rights Service
www.pers.org.uk

Directgov
www.direct.gov.uk/employment

Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
www.bis.gov.uk