Your payslip serves a number of functions. Crucially, it confirms that you've been paid, usually on a weekly or a monthly basis. Some people receive their wages directly into a bank or building society account; others may get their payslip along with a pay packet (containing cash). It also tells you what's been skimmed from the final sum: either compulsory or voluntary deductions.

Your payslip layout may differ from one employer to the next, but here are the bare essentials:

• Employer name
  The person, company or organisation you work for.
• Employee name
  That's you, the one with the name badge on your overalls.
• Pay reference
  This number is unique to you, with one for each staff member.
• Payment date
  Tells you when the money hit your account.
• Gross pay
  All the money you've earned in this period, before deductions.
• National Insurance Contribution
  The amount deducted depends on your income, but it's compulsory. Your NI number may also be included, along with a code that determines whether or not you're contributing to a work pension scheme.
• Income tax
  This amount is paid to the HM Revenue & Customs, and deducted at source. Your payslip should also show your PAYE tax code that shows how much income tax you'll be expected to pay. 
• Pension Scheme contribution
  There are many different types of pension schemes on offer, all of which allow you to invest a percentage of your income for your retirement. If you've opted in to such a scheme, the amount in question will be deducted at source and shown here.
• Student Loans contribution
  If you have previously taken out a student loan and are earning over the qualifying amount, this will directly come out of your salary and be shown on your payslip.
• Order attached to the salary
  Courts can require a debt or fine to be taken straight out of an employee's salary.
• Net pay
  What you're left with, once the deductions have been taken off. We'll have a pint, seeing that you're buying! Nice one. Cheers.

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