What Details Are Shown On Pre-payday Earnings Statements?

Compass associates see complete earnings previews before payday through the ESS portal. Kitchen, school, and hospital workers review hours, taxes, and net pay on Wednesday morning. Final paystubs post on Friday. This preview helps workers spot errors and plan budgets early each week.

This guide explains what the earnings preview shows, how to read each section, and why checking it matters.

What the Earnings Preview Is?

The earnings preview shows an estimated paycheck before payday. It uses your clocked hours, pay rate, tax settings, and deductions. The preview updates as punches change.

The preview does not move money. It does not replace the final paystub. It gives visibility before payroll locks.

Associates use the preview to:

• Confirm hours worked
• Check overtime pay
• Review tax withholding
• Estimate Friday deposit amount

Where to Find the Earnings Preview?

Active associates log in at compassassociate.com or ess.compassassociate.com.

After login:

• Click PeopleHub
• Select Payroll Preview or Earnings Preview

The preview appears on Wednesday morning after time punches lock.

Mobile users access the same preview using a phone browser. The Compass Time app mirrors hours and estimates.

Employee and Pay Period Information

The top section shows employee details.

You see:

• Your full name
• Personnel number
• Pay period dates
• Preview label marked Estimated Earnings

Pay periods run Monday through Sunday. A preview dated Wednesday shows the current week.

The site location appears under your name. This lists kitchen, school cafeteria, or hospital unit.

Manager contact details show in this section. Associates contact managers fast when hours look wrong.

This header confirms the preview belongs to you and the correct pay period.

Hours Worked and Earnings Estimate

The hours section shows time worked so far.

Current Hours

You see:

• Regular hours
• Overtime hours
• Total punches

Example:

• Regular hours: 39.75
• Overtime hours: 2.25

These numbers match your timesheet punches.

Gross Pay Estimate

The system multiplies hours by pay rates.

Example:

• Regular pay: $640
• Overtime pay: $67.50
• Total gross: $707.50

This number shows pay before taxes and deductions.

Overtime Preview

Overtime hours show clearly once weekly hours pass 40. The preview flags overtime pay at 1.5x rate.

Shift Differentials

Some roles include extra pay:

• Evening shift bonus
• Weekend premium
• Holiday rate

Each differential shows on its own line. Kitchen and hospital workers often see these bonuses.

Year-to-Date Earnings

The YTD column estimates your running total for the year. It updates each week.

This helps workers track annual income for taxes and benefits.

Tax Withholding Projections

The tax section estimates deductions using your W-4 settings and work location.

Federal Income Tax

Federal tax depends on filing status and dependents.

Example:

• Single filer
• Estimated federal tax: $75

This amount shows current week and YTD total.

State Income Tax

State tax depends on location.

Examples:

• California: estimated $56
• Texas: $0

Multi-state workers may see more than one state line.

Social Security Tax

Social Security withholds 6.2% of wages until the annual cap.

Example:

• $43.87 withheld this week

YTD totals track progress toward the cap.

Medicare Tax

Medicare withholds 1.45% of all wages. No cap applies.

Example:

• $10.26 this week

High earners see an additional Medicare line later in the year.

Year-to-Date Tax Preview

The preview adds current estimates to YTD totals. This shows how much tax you pay so far this year.

Pre-Tax Deductions Forecast

Pre-tax deductions reduce taxable income.

Common deductions include:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Dental and vision plans
• Uniform fees

Example:

• 401(k): $35.38
• Health insurance: $45
• Dental and vision: $12

Total pre-tax deductions: $80

The preview shows how these deductions lower taxable wages before tax calculation.

Complete Pre-Payday Breakdown

The earnings preview groups all data into sections.

Section	What You See
Employee Info	Name, ID, site, dates
Hours	Regular and overtime
Gross Estimate	Current and YTD
Federal Tax	Current and YTD
State Tax	Site-based
FICA	Social Security and Medicare
Pre-Tax Deductions	Benefits and savings
Net Pay Forecast	Estimated deposit

This table helps associates understand each line without payroll training.

Net Pay Take-Home Projection

Net pay shows what you receive on Friday.

Example:

• Gross pay: $707.50
• Taxes: $185
• Pre-tax deductions: $80
• Net pay: $442.50

Direct deposit splits appear when enabled.

Example:

• Bank A: $300
• Bank B: $142.50

The preview updates in real time as punches or settings change.

Leave Balances and PTO

Many previews include leave information.

You may see:

• Vacation hours used
• Sick time used
• Remaining balances
• Accrual rate

Example:

• Vacation used: 4 hours
• Sick used: 2 hours
• Vacation remaining: 36 hours
• Sick remaining: 24 hours

Accrual rates show how fast time builds each week.

This helps workers plan time off without guessing.

Why the Wednesday Preview Matters?

The preview gives time to fix issues.

Workers catch:

• Missing punches
• Incorrect overtime
• Wrong tax withholding
• Unexpected deductions

Punch edits often remain open for 24 hours. Manager approvals usually close Thursday.

Early review prevents payroll disputes.

Budget planning improves when workers know the exact deposit amount.

Mobile Access and Sync

The Compass Time app shows punches and estimates.

Features include:

• Real-time punch sync
• Hours preview
• Net pay estimate

Login uses your personnel number. No company network required.

Phones and tablets show the same data as desktop.

Preview vs Final Paystub

The preview uses estimates.

The final paystub:

• Locks approved punches
• Applies exact tax rates
• Confirms deductions

Small differences of 1–2% may appear due to rounding.

Major differences signal a problem worth reporting.

How to Use the Preview Each Week?

Best practice for associates:

• Check preview Wednesday morning
• Compare hours to shifts
• Review tax lines
• Screenshot preview
• Compare to Friday stub

Screenshots help resolve payroll issues fast.

Who Benefits Most from Earnings Preview?

This tool helps:

• Hourly kitchen staff
• School cafeteria workers
• Hospital support teams
• Workers with overtime
• Employees managing tight budgets

Anyone paid hourly benefits from early visibility.

Security and Privacy Tips

Your preview includes sensitive data.

Protect it by:

• Logging out after use
• Avoiding public Wi-Fi
• Locking your phone
• Typing the site URL directly

Fake ESS sites exist. Always verify the address.

Final Takeaway

The ESS earnings preview gives Compass associates control before payday.

You see:

• Hours worked
• Gross pay
• Taxes
• Deductions
• Net deposit

Kitchen, school, and hospital workers use this preview to plan budgets and avoid surprises.

Check compassassociate.com every Wednesday. Stay ahead every payday.