Australian employers must give an employee a payslip within one working day of payday, even when the employee is on leave. It may be electronic or paper, but it must be more than a net-pay notification.
Check it field by field
| Area | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and period | Employer name and ABN (if any), employee name, payment date and pay period | Identifies the employment and work period |
| Pay result | Gross pay and net pay | Connects pre-tax earnings, deductions and the bank deposit |
| Pay components | Where relevant, hours, ordinary hourly rate, loadings, allowances, bonuses and penalty rates | Reveals missing weekend, night or casual payments |
| Deductions | Amount and description of each deduction | Helps test whether it was authorised and calculated correctly |
| Super | Required contribution information for the pay period and the fund name, where applicable | Shows the stated liability, which should still be checked against the fund |
Build an evidence trail if something is wrong
- Save the original PDF or screenshots; do not rely on permanent access to an employee portal.
- Compare the payslip with timesheets, rosters, the bank deposit and the applicable award rate.
- Email the exact pay period, expected amount and actual amount, requesting an explanation or correction.
- If unresolved, use Fair Work’s pay and conditions tools or contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Important: a super figure on a payslip does not prove that money reached your super fund. Payday Super changed the payment rhythm from July 2026, so check the fund’s transaction record separately.
This summarises national Fair Work minimum requirements. An award, enterprise agreement or contract may provide more.
Official sources
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