My paycheck is short or missing hours — what to do

Applies to: Workers on US and Canada assignments — employees and independent contractors. If you're an employee working outside the US and Canada (international EOR), this doesn't apply to you — contact your in-country HR partner about pay.

If your paycheck looks smaller than expected, or hours you worked are missing, the most common cause is a timesheet that was never entered, is still waiting for approval, or wasn't approved before payroll closed — or an expense reimbursement that hasn't been approved yet. Here's how to check, and one important thing to know about how pay for a period is grouped.

Step 1 — Check your timesheet status

Log in to the Ascen portal at app.ascen.com and go to Timesheets in the left-hand menu.

Look at the status shown next to each timesheet entry for the period in question:

You may also see Pending or No bill on some entries as time moves through the process.

If a timesheet does not appear at all, it may never have been entered into the system. See How do I add time sheets? for instructions.

Note: Whether you enter your own timesheets or your staffing Partner enters them on your behalf depends on how your account is configured. If you do not see a way to add time, contact your staffing Partner — they may handle timesheet entry for you.

Step 1b — One unapproved timesheet can hold the whole period

Your time for a pay period is approved and paid together. That means a single timesheet still in "Awaiting approval" can hold up the rest of that period's pay — if your client or agency hasn't approved one of your timesheets, the other hours for the period can be blocked too.

If you see a timesheet stuck in Awaiting approval and your approver isn't acting on it, let us know — email support@ascen.com and we can help get the approval moving so the rest of your pay isn't held up. See also What to do when your timesheet is stuck in "Awaiting Approval".

Step 1c — Missing a reimbursement? Expenses are approved separately

If what's missing is an expense reimbursement (not hours), note that expenses go through their own approval and can take up to 30 days to be reviewed, depending on the complexity of the expense and confirming its business use. A pending expense does not hold up the rest of your pay — it's simply paid once it's approved, so a reimbursement that isn't on this check may just still be under review rather than missing.

Step 2 — Check your pay stub

If your timesheet shows Approved, pull up your pay stub to see exactly what was paid.
1. In the portal, go to Paychecks in the left-hand menu.
2. Find the paycheck for the period in question and click Paystub to open or download it.
3. Review the hours and pay lines listed. Compare them to your timesheet.

See Where can I view my paystubs? if you need help locating your paychecks.

Step 3 — Identify what is missing or wrong

Once you have your timesheet and pay stub in front of you, note:
- Which dates or hours are missing or incorrect
- Whether the pay rate looks right for those hours
- Whether any expected earnings (for example, overtime or reimbursements) are absent

This information will help you explain the issue clearly when you reach out for help.

Step 4 — Who to contact

Ascen is your employer of record and runs your payroll, so who to contact depends on whether the problem is your pay or your time:

If your pay is missing or looks wrong — your time was approved but wasn't paid, the rate looks off, or expected earnings are absent — contact Ascen right away at support@ascen.com. We process your pay, so we can investigate and make any correction. Don't wait — reach out as soon as you notice.

If your time is missing or unapproved — a timesheet was never entered, or it's stuck in "Awaiting approval" — your staffing partner or client is usually the one who enters and approves time, so contact them to get it entered or approved. You can also let us know at support@ascen.com if an approval is stuck and we'll help chase it (see Step 1b).

When you reach out, include:
- The pay period dates affected
- The specific hours or earnings that appear to be missing
- A screenshot or note from your timesheet showing the approved time (if applicable)

What happens after you report a short check?

Pay corrections are typically processed as an adjustment on a future paycheck rather than as an immediate separate payment. The exact timing depends on the payroll schedule and when the correction is submitted — email support@ascen.com and we'll give you an estimated timeline.

Frequently asked questions

My timesheet says Approved but the hours still aren't on my check. Why?
There is a cutoff point after which approved timesheets are included in the next payroll cycle rather than the current one. If your timesheet was approved after payroll was already processed for that period, your hours will appear in the next check. Email support@ascen.com to confirm.

My timesheet was rejected. Can I resubmit it?
Yes. Open the timesheet, make any needed corrections, and submit it again. If you are unsure why it was rejected, check for a note from your approver or reach out to them directly.

I don't see a Timesheets section in my portal. What do I do?
Some employers configure timesheets to be entered by your client or agency rather than by you. Contact your agency to confirm how timesheets are submitted for your assignment.

My pay rate looks wrong on the pay stub. Who fixes that?
Your pay rate is set on your assignment by your staffing partner, so ask them to correct the rate. If you've already been paid at the wrong rate, also email support@ascen.com so we can fix the affected pay.