Review payroll alerts before you submit payroll. They point out unusual pay changes and trends so you can double-check them.
We show payroll alerts only during regular payroll runs. They do not appear for off-cycle or extra-pay payrolls.
We use your past payroll data to highlight changes that may need a closer look, so you can catch issues before you pay your team.
Here’s what to expect when you review payroll alerts:
We show payroll alerts during the Review step of a regular payroll.
If you use payroll automations, you also see these alerts in your Pre-payroll review email and under Review unusual payroll entries when you open your payroll.
We flag signals, not confirmed errors.
If nothing looks unusual, you may see a message saying no major issues were detected.
You should still review payroll before submitting.
These alerts never change pay or submit payroll on their own. If you turn on automatic payroll submission in payroll automations, payroll runs automatically one day before your payroll deadline, and you have 24 hours to make changes or cancel it.
When you reach the Review step, you can compare the current payroll to recent payrolls for each employee. Look for these payroll alerts above the Payroll Details section.
We may flag:
Hours that are much higher or lower than usual
Large changes in overtime or double overtime
Unusual bonuses, commissions, or tips
Reimbursements or deductions that are larger than normal or don’t usually appear
We explain each alert in plain language and link you back to where you can review or fix it.
Payroll alerts help you review payroll, but they do not:
Submit payroll for you
Change hours, pay, or deductions on their own
Catch every possible issue
Provide legal or tax advice
You should still review payroll carefully and talk to your own advisors when needed.
To show payroll alerts, we need past payroll data to spot patterns. Because of this:
New employees may not have enough history for alerts
Some payroll types may not show alerts
If payroll alerts do not appear, you can still run payroll as usual.
To review payroll alerts during a regular payroll run:
Start a Regular payroll.
Go to the Review page.
Look for the payroll alerts above the Payroll Details section.
Click an alert to see what changed and which employee it affects. Decide if the change is expected. Think about schedule changes, bonuses, promotions, or seasonal shifts.
With the alert expanded, you can click Edit to fix anything that looks wrong. Click Dismiss to ignore an alert.
Use the link in the alert to update hours, earnings, reimbursements, or deductions.
Return to the Review page.
If the change is expected, move forward or dismiss the alert when that option is available.
Submit payroll when you’re ready.
To get the most value from payroll alerts:
Review alerts first on the Review step.
Double-check missing or unexpected values.
Keep employee pay and setup up to date.
Document known large changes so your team expects the flags.
Q: Are payroll alerts always right?
No. We look for patterns, not full business context.
We may flag changes that are expected, like seasonal overtime or promotions.
We may miss issues that don’t stand out from past payrolls.
We only show alerts for employees with enough payroll history, so new employees may not have alerts yet.
Use payroll alerts as a second set of eyes, not your only review.
Q: Do payroll alerts slow down payroll?
A: No. They're designed to be fast and appear automatically on the Review step. You can quickly scan them, fix anything that looks wrong, and submit payroll.
In many cases, these alerts save time by pointing you to a few specific items instead of requiring you to review every row.
Q: Does this change how Gusto uses my data?
A: No. We use the same payroll and employee data you already enter in Gusto.
We look at how values change over time for each employee.
We do not sell your data.
We use payroll alerts only to improve your payroll experience and help reduce errors.
For more details, review Gusto’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Q: Can I use payroll alerts with other payroll features?
A: In most cases, yes. They work with:
Regular payroll using the spreadsheet view
Time tracking (synced hours still appear in payroll)
Some features, such as Payroll on AutoPilot®, may have limitations. If payroll alerts are not available for a payroll, you can still run payroll normally.
Q: What happens if I review payroll alerts regularly?
A: Reviewing payroll alerts often can help reduce:
Payroll corrections
Payroll cancellations
Off-cycle payroll fixes
This helps you pay your team accurately and with greater confidence each time you run payroll.