How do I check if my payslip is correct?

Compare the gross amount on the payslip against the hours you actually worked, multiplied by the rate for your classification, with casual loading and any weekend or public holiday penalty applied. Use the GROSS figure, before tax — comparing your take-home pay against the hours will always look like a shortfall when there is none. Superannuation is paid on top and is not part of this comparison.

Does an unpaid meal break count as time worked?

No. A genuine unpaid meal break is not paid time, so a 9am-5pm shift with a 30-minute unpaid break is 7.5 paid hours, not 8. But you must actually be free of duty during it. If you are required to stay on the floor, remain responsible for customers, or are interrupted to work, it is not an unpaid break and should be paid.

What is the casual loading in Australia?

25% under most modern awards. It is paid instead of paid annual leave, paid personal leave and notice of termination, and it applies on top of the base rate before any weekend or public holiday penalty is worked out.

What should I do if my pay is short?

Raise it with your employer in writing first — most shortfalls are payroll errors and are fixed once pointed out. Keep your own record of hours worked. If it is not resolved, the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) can help, and a claim to recover unpaid wages can generally be made within 6 years of when the amount was payable.

Roster to Payslip Reconciler

Enter the shifts you worked and what you were paid, and see whether the money adds up — hours, casual loading and weekend or public holiday penalties.

Last verified: 5 September 2026

Base hourly rate (before casual loading)*

The ordinary rate for your classification. Not sure? Use the Historical Award Pay Rates tool to find the rate that applied on these dates.

Employment type

Permanent or fixed-term

Casual

State or territory

Used to recognise public holidays on your shift dates.

Your shifts

A shift finishing earlier than it started is treated as running past midnight.

DateStartFinishUnpaid break

Public holiday

DateStartFinishUnpaid break

Public holiday

Saturday penalty in your award

Leave it out if you're not sure — those shifts will be costed at ordinary time and flagged, so the result understates rather than overstates.

Sunday penalty in your award

Public holiday penalty in your award

Gross pay received for these shifts*

The GROSS figure from your payslip — before tax, not what landed in your account.

FairWork Mate AI

The figure is the easy part.

Whether it's right — and what you can do about it — is what the advisor is for. Pro reads your payslip, contract or letter against the full Fair Work Commission and Federal Court case library, cites the decision behind every answer, and drafts what you send next. 150 questions a month, cancel anytime.

Just need today sorted? A Day Pass is 25 questions over 24 hours. No account, nothing to cancel.

Get pay and rights updates for your job

Free email updates when award rates, the minimum wage or workplace laws change.

Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.

Roster to Payslip Reconciler

The figure is the easy part.

Related Tools