Pay period vs. pay date.
In plain English
These rarely line up. A paycheck dated June 12 might cover work from May 24 through June 6. That lag is normal: payroll needs processing time. It also explains why your first check at a new job feels late, and why your last check arrives after you've left.
01Why it matters
Understanding the lag is what turns a "missing" first paycheck from a panic into a non-event, and it matters for budgeting around a job change.
02The math, step by step
You start a job June 1 at a company that pays biweekly with a one-week lag. Your first check arrives around June 19, covering June 1 through June 12. You worked nearly three weeks before seeing a dollar.
03What this is NOT
A "missing" first paycheck is usually not an error. It's the lag. Check the pay period printed on the stub before calling payroll.
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