Setting up your first job

Paycheq asks a few short questions, one per screen, then you're ready to clock in. You can change every answer later in Jobs.

Before you start

Have a recent pay stub handy. You'll use it for your pay schedule, and, if you want, for your year-to-date amounts.

The setup screens

Tap Continue to move to the next screen. Tap the back arrow at the top left to go back. Skip at the top right skips setup and takes you to the app; you can add a job later in Jobs.

1. Your data stays private. How Paycheq keeps your information on your phone.

2. Here's how Paycheq helps. A quick tour of what the app does.

3. What's the job? Type a name you'll recognize, such as your employer or your role.

4. What's your hourly rate? Your usual rate before tax, such as 39.51. You can add other rates later, such as a lead rate.

5. Your last cheque. Three dates from your pay stub. Paycheq works out your pay schedule from them. See "Your pay schedule from your last cheque."

6. Do you have a union contract?

   • Yes, I'm in a union: you'll set your contract's overtime next, and can add its other rules any time.

   • No: your overtime and holiday pay follow your province's labour law.

   • If a coworker shared their contract rules with you, tap Have a rules file from a coworker? Import it. and choose the file.

1. When does overtime start? (union only) Choose Daily, Weekly or both, then the hours and what they pay, such as 1.5× after 8 hours and 2× after 10. Choose Off if your contract has no overtime of its own.

2. Union dues (union only). How often they come off, the amount, and the date they last came off a cheque. Leave the amount blank if you don't pay dues.

3. How should tax be estimated?

   • Canadian payroll tax: choose your province. Paycheq works out federal and provincial tax, CPP and EI.

   • Flat percentage: take a set share of your gross pay, such as 20%.

1. Does your contract add any holidays? (union only) Tick any days your contract pays on top of your province's holidays.

2. Try everything free for 14 days. Tap Start your 14-day free trial to try every Pro feature. There's nothing to pay and nothing renews. Tap Not now to keep the free version.

3. Earlier this year. Year-to-date amounts from your latest stub, so CPP and EI stop at the right time. You can tap Skip for now, add it later in Jobs.

4. Daily reminders. A nudge to clock in, and another to clock out.

5. Back up to iCloud Drive. Turn this on to keep a copy of everything in your own iCloud.

On the last screen, tap Start tracking.

Changing your answers later

Go to Jobs and tap your job. Everything from setup is there, plus settings such as your start date, TD1 claims and exemptions. Tap Save when you're done.

If you entered the wrong hourly rate: change Default hourly rate and tap Save. If shifts you've already recorded are at the old rate, Paycheq asks what to do:

• Update shifts moves them to the new rate, including any time and a half and double time shifts, and the shift you're on now.

• Keep their rates leaves them alone. Choose this if the old rate was right for those days.

For a raise, don't change the default rate. Add it under Pay rate changes instead, so earlier shifts keep the rate you were paid then.

Good to know

• Adding another job goes through the same questions, except the welcome screens, reminders and backup. More than one job needs Paycheq Pro.

• Setting up on a new phone? The first setup screen offers to restore your iCloud Drive backup. See "Backing up and restoring."