What to Gather Before Comparing Your Earnings

Returning to work on light duties can change your pay pattern. You may work fewer hours, stop doing overtime or receive different allowances.

Before drawing conclusions, organise the records that explain what changed. A clear comparison starts with accurate information.

1. Gather payslips from before and after the change

Collect payslips covering the periods you want to compare. Keep the original files and put copies in date order.

Look for:

• The dates covered by each payment.
• Ordinary hours and pay.
• Overtime and separately listed payments.
• Gross pay, deductions and net pay.
• Corrections, back payments or unusual one-off amounts.

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay-slip guidance explains the information that pay slips should contain, including gross and net pay and separately identifiable allowances and penalty payments. See its guidance in the references below.

2. Compare equivalent periods

A fortnightly payment cannot be compared directly with a weekly payment.

For a simple comparison, convert both to the same period. For example, $2,800 gross over two complete weeks equals an average of $1,400 gross per week.

This conversion organises the figures. It does not establish the correct averaging period for a workers compensation claim.

Avoid choosing only your highest-paid week. Keep enough records to show variations in your usual work pattern.

3. Keep gross and net amounts separate

Gross pay is the amount before deductions. Net pay is the amount remaining after deductions.

Use gross earnings consistently when entering My Overtime’s gross-earnings questions. Comparing a gross amount with a net amount produces a misleading difference.

A bank deposit can help confirm that money arrived, but it may not explain the individual components of the payment.

4. Record what changed and when

Prepare a short timeline containing:

• When your work pattern changed.
• The hours and duties you performed before and afterwards.
• When overtime, penalties or allowances changed.
• Any leave, unpaid periods, payroll corrections or separate compensation payments.

If you are unsure what a payment represents, mark it as unclear rather than guessing.

5. Keep compensation records separately identifiable

If you receive workers compensation payments, retain the insurer’s payment explanations and any written earnings assessment.

Record what each payment covers. This helps avoid counting the same amount twice or confusing wages with compensation.

The difference between earlier and current earnings is not, by itself, proof of unpaid wages or compensation owed.

6. Ask payroll clear questions

A useful enquiry might be:

“Could you please explain the earnings components and any adjustments used for these pay periods, including how wages and any compensation payments are shown?”

Keep your enquiry factual and retain the response with your records.

Use your organised figures carefully

You can use the My Overtime calculator to compare gross weekly earnings.

A separate, restricted NSW illustration is available only for supported answers. Read its assumptions and exclusions before using the result. It does not calculate every person’s statutory entitlement or an unpaid balance.

Rules and outcomes can differ between people, states and compensation schemes. Seek assistance from the relevant insurer, regulator, union or qualified adviser when you need an assessment of your circumstances.

Your preparation checklist

Before starting, have:

• Payslips covering both comparison periods.
• Matching pay-period dates.
• Gross earnings figures.
• Relevant hours and payment components.
• A timeline of changes.
• Separately identifiable compensation records, where applicable.
• A list of questions about anything unclear.

Keep these documents securely. Do not post payslips, claim numbers or medical information in public comments or social media.

This article provides general information about organising records. It is not legal advice, an entitlement assessment or a promise of recovery.