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Letter to payroll about a pay mistake

Many short paychecks are honest mistakes, and a short, specific note often gets them fixed. Copy this, fill in the brackets, and keep a copy.

Subject: Question about my pay for [start date] to [end date] Hello [name], I went over my paycheck for the pay period [start date] to [end date], and a few items don't add up for me. Could you take a look? - [What looks wrong, with the number. Pick from the lines below.] By my count, the shortfall on this check comes to $[total]. Could you review these items and let me know whether a correction will be made? I'm glad to go over the numbers together. I've kept my own record of my hours and tips for this period if that helps. Thank you, [Your name]

Lines for common problems

Paste the ones that fit in place of the bracketed line, and fill in your numbers.

Missing hours

The stub shows [stub hours] hours, but I worked [your hours]. At my regular rate of $[rate], the missing hours come to $[amount].

Tips did not reach minimum wage

In the week of [date], my cash wage plus the tips I kept came to less than minimum wage for the hours I worked. The difference is $[amount].

Overtime rate too low

My overtime rate looks too low. For a tipped employee, the overtime rate is one and a half times the full minimum wage, minus the tip credit. For this pay period the difference is $[amount].

Overtime hours missing

I worked [hours] hours in the week of [date], but [number] overtime hours are not paid as overtime. The missing overtime pay comes to $[amount].

Uniform or shortage deduction

There is a $[amount] deduction for [uniform / register shortage / breakage / a walkout]. I don't think that deduction is allowed in [state], or it brings my pay below the minimum wage.

Tip pool

Managers or supervisors appear to be sharing in the tip pool, which isn't allowed. I paid $[amount] into the pool this period.

Service charge counted as tips

$[amount] in service charges appears to have been treated as tips. Mandatory service charges are wages and belong in my gross pay.

Tips for sending it

Put it in writing. Email or a message in your scheduling app is fine. Writing gives you a dated record.
Stick to numbers. Dates, hours, rates and amounts. No accusations needed; the numbers do the work.
Keep your own records. Your notes of hours and tips count if there is ever a dispute. Keep your stubs too.
Give it one pay period. If it is not fixed or explained by the next check, you can file a wage claim for free with your state labor agency or the U.S. Department of Labor. See what to do if your paycheck is wrong.

Federal law and many states make it illegal to punish you for complaining about your pay or filing a wage claim.

Let TruWage write it

The paycheck checker fills this in for you, with each problem and its dollar amount, in English or Spanish.

TruWage for iPhone and Android is almost here

Scan a stub with your camera, keep a history of every check, and get a reminder on payday. Leave your email and you will get one message when it is out.

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