My paycheck is less than it should be — how do I prove it?
Published July 3, 2026
The short answer
Start by pinning down the gap: what you expected to be paid, what you actually got, and why they differ. Short pay usually comes from a handful of causes — hours that weren’t counted, an incorrect rate, unpaid overtime, or deductions taken from your pay.
You don’t need to argue the law to make the problem clear. What helps is a dated record that lines up the hours you worked and the rate you agreed against each paycheck, so the difference speaks for itself.
What you can do
- 1
Work out what you expected
Your agreed rate times the hours you actually worked, plus any overtime or tips you recorded — as your own estimate.
- 2
Compare it to your pay stub
Note the difference, and anything unexpected such as deductions or missing hours.
- 3
Gather the supporting pieces
Schedules, timesheets, clock-in screenshots, your offer or rate agreement, and past pay stubs.
- 4
Record each shortfall as it happens
Logging each one on the day turns a vague feeling into a clear, dated pattern.
- 5
Raise it in writing and check the rules
Ask your employer in writing; for pay-rule specifics, see dol.gov or your state labor department.
Where the exact rules matter: the specifics — figures, thresholds, deadlines, and which rules apply — vary by state and by your situation. Check them with the U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov) or your state labor department rather than relying on a number from anywhere else.
In plain terms
- Gross vs net pay
- “Gross” is before deductions; “net” is what lands in your account. A short check could be a deduction issue or a missing-hours issue.
- Rate of pay
- The amount you agreed to be paid per hour or per shift.
- Deduction
- Money taken out of your pay. Some are normal (like taxes); others may not be allowed, and the rules vary by state.
Where rippedoffworker comes in
The guide tells you what to do — the app does it with you.
rippedoffworker helps you log the hours, pay, and treatment as they happen and builds a dated record over time — so your own figures and the pattern behind it are organized in one place, ready to take to the people who can help.
rippedoffworker is a record-keeping tool, not a law firm, and does not give legal advice. Any amounts are arithmetic on the figures you entered — apparent, not a guaranteed or legally determined amount.