Payroll involves paying employees for hours worked within a specific pay period. Generally, employees are paid weekly, biweekly or semi-monthly. Salaried employees are usually paid a set wage each pay date but hourly employees are paid based on hours worked. Sometimes, while processing the current payroll, the employer may have to add hours from a prior pay period. Depending on the circumstance, it is possible to add hours on the payroll.

Adding Hours on Payroll–Prior Pay Period

Add hours so it falls in a prior pay period. For instance, say the employee was shorted some hours on her last paycheck, which happens to fall in the prior quarter or year. Make the adjustment in the actual pay period that the addition relates to. This way it will show in the employee’s earnings history for the appropriate quarter or year. Note that most states require quarterly wage reporting. To ensure accurate wage reporting, make the addition in the correct quarter.