> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pluvel.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Pay Schedules
> Configure when and how often you pay employees.
"When do I get paid?" is the first question every employee asks. Your pay schedule answers it — and once it's set, you're locked into that rhythm.
Choose carefully. Changing pay schedules mid-year creates confusion, transition headaches, and sometimes angry employees who thought they were getting paid Friday but now have to wait until the 15th.
## Pay schedule types
| Schedule | Frequency | Pay periods/year | Best for |
| ------------ | --------------- | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Weekly | Every week | 52 | Hourly workers, construction, restaurants |
| Bi-weekly | Every two weeks | 26 | Most common — good balance |
| Semi-monthly | 1st and 15th | 24 | Salaried employees, predictable dates |
| Monthly | Once per month | 12 | Executives, some states don't allow for hourly |
## Creating a pay schedule
Navigate to **Settings → Payroll → Pay Schedules**.
Click **Add Pay Schedule**.
* Schedule name (e.g., "Bi-weekly Friday")
* Frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly)
* Pay day (which day employees see money)
* First pay date
You can now assign employees to this schedule.
## Schedule details by type
### Weekly
| Setting | What it means |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| Pay day | Usually Friday |
| Week ending | Last day of the work week (usually Sunday) |
| First pay date | When the first paycheck lands |
52 payrolls per year. More work for you, but employees get cash flow.
### Bi-weekly
| Setting | What it means |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Pay day | Usually Friday |
| Week 1 start | Defines which weeks are "pay weeks" |
| First pay date | Anchors the bi-weekly cycle |
26 pay periods. Twice a month feels consistent, but two months per year have 3 pay periods (employees love those months).
### Semi-monthly
| Setting | What it means |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------- |
| First pay day | Usually the 15th |
| Second pay day | Usually the last day of month |
| Weekend adjustment | What happens when pay day falls on Saturday |
24 pay periods. Predictable dates every month, but hours don't divide evenly — awkward for hourly employees.
### Monthly
| Setting | What it means |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------ |
| Pay day | Usually the 1st or last day of month |
| Weekend adjustment | Shift to Friday or Monday |
12 pay periods. Easiest for you, hardest for employees to budget. Some states restrict monthly pay for hourly workers.
## Weekend adjustments
When pay day lands on a weekend:
| Option | What happens |
| -------------------- | ------------------ |
| Previous Friday | Pay early |
| Following Monday | Pay late |
| Closest business day | Depends on the day |
Most companies choose "previous Friday." Employees prefer getting paid early over late.
## Holiday adjustments
When pay day falls on a bank holiday (Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.):
1. Define your company holidays in **Settings → Payroll → Holidays**
2. Choose how to handle conflicts
3. Pluvel adjusts automatically
Employees don't like being told their paycheck will arrive "sometime after the holiday."
## Multiple schedules
Many companies run different schedules for different groups:
| Group | Typical schedule | Why |
| ------------------ | ------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| Hourly employees | Weekly or bi-weekly | Cash flow matters, easier to track hours |
| Salaried employees | Semi-monthly | Consistent amounts, predictable dates |
| Executives | Monthly | Higher earners can budget longer |
You can have as many schedules as you need — but more schedules means more payroll runs.
## Assigning employees
Each employee belongs to exactly one schedule:
1. Open their profile
2. Go to **Compensation**
3. Select the pay schedule
4. Save
When you run payroll, you'll run it by schedule — everyone on "Bi-weekly Friday" gets processed together.
## The payroll calendar
See all your deadlines in one view:
1. Go to **Payroll → Calendar**
2. View pay dates across all schedules
3. See submission deadlines
4. Plan your week
Color-coded by schedule if you have multiple.
## Submission deadlines
To hit pay dates, submit payroll ahead of time:
| Pay date | Submit by |
| ----------------- | --------------------- |
| Friday | Wednesday 5pm |
| 15th | 4 business days prior |
| Last day of month | 4 business days prior |
Miss the deadline and employees get paid late. They'll remember.
Pluvel sends reminders before submission deadlines. But set your own calendar reminders too — don't leave it to chance.
## Changing schedules
Changing someone's schedule mid-year:
1. Open their profile
2. Update the pay schedule
3. **Carefully** time the transition to avoid gaps or double-payments
If the old schedule paid on the 15th and the new one pays bi-weekly starting Monday, what happens in between? You need to think this through.
For company-wide schedule changes, plan months ahead and communicate clearly. Employees get anxious about anything that touches their paycheck timing.
Set up benefits, retirement, and other withholdings.