What Is it a payslip? Is it mandatory? Understand how it works!

Every worker, whether public or private, must receive a pay stub, or paycheck. This type of document serves as proof of receipt of their salary and contains important information about their salary and deductions.

So, to answer your questions, we've gathered everything you need to know about pay stubs so you can organize yourself and get to know this document better.

Follow the article and learn more about what a payslip is.

What is a payslip?

A pay slip, also known as a paycheck, is a payment statement issued by companies to their employees on a monthly basis.

It contains detailed information about the employee's compensation, including gross salary, mandatory deductions, additional compensation, and other job-related financial details.

The term “payslip” originates from the name of the American businessman Herman Hollerith, a pioneer in modern data processing systems.

What is a pay stub for? How important is it?

Payslips play a fundamental role for both companies and employees.

It serves as proof of payment, ensuring that the employee received their salary correctly and that the company is fulfilling its labor and tax obligations. Furthermore, the pay stub is essential for:

• Financial Control: The payslip helps the company control expenses on salaries and benefits, allowing for efficient financial management.
• Legal Support: In the case of labor lawsuits, the pay slip is proof that the company has legally fulfilled its tax and labor obligations.
• Proof of Income: For employees, a pay stub is essential proof of income in situations such as renting property, applying for loans, and opening bank accounts.

Therefore, you can see how important this document is and that you need to have it on hand so that you can verify all the details of your receipt.

What information should the payslip contain?

Pay stubs should contain detailed information to ensure transparency in employment relationships. The main information a pay stub should contain is:

• Company Data: Name, CNPJ, address and company name.
• Employee Data: Employee's name, PIS, function/position and CPF.
• Gross Salary: The nominal value of the remuneration without any discount.
• Number of Days Worked: Indicates the working period in the month.
• Additional: Information on overtime, night shift pay, hazard pay, among others.
• Gratuities: Any additional amount paid to the employee.
• Discounts: They include advances, delays, absences and discounts for mandatory contributions such as INSS and FGTS.
• Discount Percentage for Transportation Voucher: If applicable.
• Non-Mandatory Discounts: Such as health plans, life insurance, food vouchers, among others.
• Net Salary: The amount that is actually paid to the employee after all discounts.

Therefore, when you receive your document, it is essential to check all the data to ensure it is correct.

Are pay stubs and paychecks the same thing?

Yes, "payslip" and "paycheck" are synonymous terms, used in different regions of Brazil to refer to the same document. In such a large country, linguistic differences can often lead to these name changes.

The variation in terminology occurs due to regional vocabulary differences. What's important to know and understand is that both refer to the monthly payment receipt issued by the company.

So, depending on where in Brazil you are, you will know the document by the term “holerite” or by the term “Contra cheque”.

How do I get my pay stub? How do I view my pay stub?

The way you access your payslip may vary depending on the practices of the company you work for.

In general, workers with a formal employment contract can receive their pay slip in two ways:

• Printed: Some companies still provide pay stubs in printed form, which are then physically handed out to employees. In this case, simply pick up the document from the appropriate department or wait for it to be delivered.
• Online: Many companies have adopted the practice of making payslips available online. In this case, you can access your payslip through the company's system or portal. To do so, you'll need a login and password provided by the organization. Online access is convenient because it allows employees to check their payslips from anywhere and at any time, whether using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

The pay slip is a fundamental document for labor relations, providing transparency and proof of payments.

It should contain detailed information about compensation and deductions, and can be accessed in print or online, depending on company practices. The important thing is that you have access to this document and can know that you are receiving your salary correctly.

Can the payslip be made online?

Yes, pay stubs can be made available online. Labor laws do not require pay stubs to be printed.

The sole paragraph of Article 464 of the CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws) establishes that "proof of deposit into a bank account opened for this purpose in the name of each employee shall have the force of receipt." This means that the requirement for a physical signature on the document has been eliminated, allowing companies to adopt electronic pay stubs.

This flexibility has allowed many companies to migrate to online payslips, eliminating the need for printing and saving resources. Electronic payslips are typically accessed through employee portals or internal company systems. This provides benefits such as:

• Storage Security: Online payslips can be stored with data encryption, protecting employee information and preventing leaks. Access is restricted to authorized employees with a login and password.
• Error Reduction: While the printed version requires manual data entry, the online payslip is automatically populated from a database, minimizing typing errors.
• Accessibility: Employees can access their payslips online from anywhere, anytime, using computers, tablets, or smartphones. This offers greater convenience and flexibility.

What are the laws regarding pay stubs?

The laws regulating pay stubs in Brazil are primarily contained in the CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws), as well as other labor regulations. Here are some relevant CLT articles:

• Article 464 of the CLT: This article stipulates that salary payments must be made against a receipt signed by the employee, and that proof of deposit into a bank account also serves as such. Therefore, it is mandatory to provide proof of payment to the employee, whether in paper or electronic format.
• Article 459 of the CLT: It establishes that monthly salary payments must be made by the fifth business day of the month following the month in which they are due. Although it does not directly specify the pay stub submission deadline, it is common practice for it to be provided within the same timeframe.
• Ordinance 1,510/2009: This ordinance from the Ministry of Labor and Employment regulates the use of Electronic Time Recording (REP) and, although it does not apply directly to payslips, it has an influence on labor practices related to the management of electronic records.

Is a payslip mandatory?

Yes, pay stubs are mandatory. Article 464 of the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT), as mentioned above, requires employees to be provided with a pay slip. Failure to provide a pay stub can result in legal issues for the company, including fines and labor lawsuits.

In fact, the absence of a pay stub can be detrimental to employees in situations where they need to prove their income, such as when obtaining credit, renting property, or other financial transactions. Therefore, pay stubs play an essential role in employees' professional and financial lives.

Is there a specific day to receive your payslip?

Although the CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws) does not specify an exact deadline for submitting the pay slip, article 459 of the CLT establishes that payment of the monthly salary must be made by the fifth business day of the month following the month in which it is due.

Many companies follow this practice and provide the pay slip within the same timeframe, that is, by the fifth business day of the month.

However, this practice may vary from company to company. Some may issue payslips on different dates, either before or after the fifth business day. Therefore, it's crucial that employees are aware of their company's pay policy and plan accordingly.

The important thing is that the company fulfills its obligation to provide payslips in a timely manner, allowing employees to access payment information efficiently.

Is it necessary to sign?

The sole paragraph of article 464 of the CLT establishes that proof of deposit into a bank account serves as a payment receipt.

This means that the requirement for a physical signature on the payslip has been eliminated by law, and the online or printed version of the document can be considered a valid receipt.

This does not imply that the signature is prohibited or invalid; many companies still adopt the practice of requesting the employee's signature on the pay slip, as an additional security and control measure.

However, legally, the lack of a physical signature does not invalidate the pay slip, as long as the company can prove delivery and the employee's access to the document.

It is important to remember that the elimination of the requirement for a physical signature on payslips allowed the adoption of electronic and online versions of the document, making the process more agile and efficient for companies and employees.

Frequently Asked Questions

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