Career · official-source review · reviewed 2026-10-04
Compare your own hours record with the pay record for the same period. Ask about differences before you assume why they occurred.
Arrange dates and records for one pay period, then prepare a neutral question about any difference.
Workers who want to organize hours, pay periods, and questions for an employer.
Use the source document or official route that applies to your situation. This guide does not contact another person or verify external information.
Use the start and end dates on the pay record.
Gather the schedule, time entry, or other record you can access.
Check that the hours and pay record cover the same period.
Describe the difference without guessing why it happened.
Contact payroll or your supervisor. Keep the response and next step.
A worker sees fewer hours on a pay record than in a personal time log. The worker checks both date ranges before asking payroll to explain the difference.
Use your own source and details. The example is not a record about a real person or organization.
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division · reviewed 2026-10-04
What this source supports: For covered employees, records can include hours worked and wages paid. Ask about the records that apply to the work and employer.
Source limit: Coverage and record requirements depend on the worker, employer, and law. This guide does not state that federal law always requires pay stubs.
These sources support the statements above. They do not show that every person needs this guide. They do not show a specific result.
Federal and state rules differ. The DOL fact sheet applies to FLSA recordkeeping for covered employees. It does not mean federal law always requires pay stubs.
Coverage and record requirements depend on the worker, employer, and law. This guide does not state that federal law always requires pay stubs.
Use current instructions from the responsible organization. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision or a substitute for qualified advice.
Each App has a separate job. Choose the one that fits your next step.
APP 1
Record work dates and hours for a pay period before comparing records.
Free · no account · no upload
Open Organize Hours for One Pay PeriodAPP 2
State the pay period, the records compared, and the question you want answered.
Free · no account · no upload
Open Prepare a Neutral Pay-Record QuestionThe Apps run in this browser. They do not send or save entries. Copy, download, or print only when you choose.
This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.