Check your paycheck for missing shift differentials

About this exercise

You think your last paycheck is short. Your base rate is $40/hr, nights (7 pm to 7 am) add $4/hr, weekend hours add $2/hr, and they stack. Write exactly 3 numbered lines, one per shift, each as hours x hourly rate = pay, then one unnumbered last line: Should be $X, stub shows $Y, short $Z. Plain text, under 80 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Not giving your rates. The AI can't know your differentials, so it just agrees with the stub. Try: Add: "Base $40, nights +$4, weekends +$2, and they stack."
• Not asking to see the work. Payroll will want the math line by line. Try: Add a line to copy: "1. Mon: 12 x $40 = $480"
• Leaving the ending open. The AI explains payroll systems instead of giving you the gap. Try: Add: "End with: Should be $X, stub shows $Y, short $Z."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each line: "each line under 14 words."
• Forgetting where it goes. AI loves markdown tables and bold, which show up as clutter in an email to payroll. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold, headings or tables."

What a strong prompt includes

• Gives the rates
• Says they stack
• Asks to show the math
• Sets a word limit
• Asks for plain text

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