Your payslip arrives. You see lines with codes, abbreviations and amounts. You mainly look at the amount you receive. Done. Until you hear that a colleague was paid too little each month, sometimes for months at a time.
The problem
Your payslip arrives. You see lines with codes, abbreviations and amounts. You mainly look at the amount you receive. Done. Until you hear that a colleague was paid too little each month, sometimes for months at a time.
Why this could be your problem too
Mistakes happen in payroll. Especially with varying hours, bonuses, holiday pay, or when you're just starting out. And the later you spot them, the trickier it gets. Then the reaction is sometimes: “We'll sort it out.” Except meanwhile, you're left without money that is rightfully yours.
What you can do
Check four fixed points
- Gross salary
- Number of hours
- Pension premium
- Income tax
Is that in line with your contract?
- Know the difference between gross and net.
- Gross the salary you agree with your employer; the amount before deduction of taxes and contributions.
- Netto is what you actually receive after deducting taxes and contributions.
- If you understand this difference, you'll more quickly see if your payslip is correct.
Please note additional benefits such as holiday pay and bonuses
Extras can be taxed differently. This means that a bonus could be lower than you expect. That's not necessarily wrong, but you do want to know why.
Do you have two jobs
In that case, you can only claim the payroll tax credit from one employer. If you accidentally claim it from both, you will often receive a back-payment notice from the tax authorities later on.
Make a small folder
Keep your contract, payslips and emails about your salary. If there's trouble, you have proof.
Solutions that often work
- Report it quickly and calmly
Please send an email with one question: “Can you explain why rule X has changed?” - Request correction and a date
Not “we're looking into it”, but “when will it be fixed”. - Don't be fobbed off with difficult language
If you don't understand it, it's not clear enough.
What de unie can do for you
De Unie can look over your payslip with you and explain what should be on it. We can also help if your employer refuses to make a correction, or if you’re consistently being underpaid.
