HR sends you a 給与改定通知書 (kyūyo kaitei tsūchisho), but the number on it does not match the next bank deposit. First check the effective date, whether the figure is base pay or total pay, and which payroll period will reflect the change. The notice describes a pay term; it is not itself a payslip.
Words on a salary revision notice
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning / what to check |
|---|---|---|
| 給与改定通知書 | きゅうよかいていつうちしょ (kyūyo kaitei tsūchisho) | Salary revision notice |
| 改定日・適用開始日 | かいていび・てきようかいしび (kaiteibi / tekiyō kaishibi) | Effective date of the revised terms |
| 改定前・改定後 | かいていまえ・かいていご (kaitei mae / kaitei go) | Before / after revision |
| 基本給 | きほんきゅう (kihonkyū) | Base pay; identify whether it is monthly, hourly or another basis |
| 諸手当 | しょてあて (sho teate) | Allowances; check each item separately |
| 月額・時給 | げつがく・じきゅう (getsugaku / jikyū) | Monthly amount / hourly rate |
| 昇給・降給 | しょうきゅう・こうきゅう (shōkyū / kōkyū) | Pay increase / pay decrease |
| 差額・遡及 | さがく・そきゅう (sagaku / sokyū) | Difference / retroactive adjustment |
| 給与締日・支給日 | きゅうよしめび・しきゅうび (kyūyo shimebi / shikyūbi) | Payroll cutoff / payment date |
Check the notice in this order
- Find the effective date. “From April 1” does not necessarily mean the April bank deposit shows a full month at the new rate. Ask which pay period the deposit covers and whether any difference is paid later.
- Compare like with like. Put the 改定前 and 改定後 figures side by side. Is the figure 基本給, a total including 諸手当, an hourly rate, or an annual amount? Do not compare a gross figure on the notice directly with net pay in your bank account.
- Check allowances and conditions. An increase in base pay and a change in an allowance may appear on different lines. If the notice lists a new role, working hours or pay basis, compare those terms with your existing notice of working conditions and ask for an explanation of anything unclear.
- Check the first relevant payslip. Locate the pay period and the 基本給, allowance and 差額 lines in the payslip guide. A payslip can also show deductions, so the net deposit may change by a different amount.
- Keep a copy and ask before acknowledging unclear terms. A performance review and a salary revision are separate records. The review sheet guide explains evaluation wording, while this notice tells you what pay terms are being communicated.
Useful questions to HR or payroll
Ask which period first reflects the change: 「改定後の基本給は、何月支給分から反映されますか。」
Kaitei-go no kihonkyū wa, nangatsu shikyū-bun kara han’ei saremasu ka?
“From which month’s payment will the revised base pay be reflected?”
Check an allowance: 「この金額には、通勤手当などの諸手当が含まれていますか。」
Kono kingaku ni wa, tsūkin teate nado no sho teate ga fukumarete imasu ka?
“Does this amount include allowances such as commuting allowance?”
Ask about a difference: 「改定日から給与締日までの差額は、どの明細に記載されますか。」
Kaiteibi kara kyūyo shimebi made no sagaku wa, dono meisai ni kisai saremasu ka?
“Which payslip will show the difference between the effective date and the payroll cutoff?”
If the terms are unclear
“Salary revision notice” is a company document name, and formats differ. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s model notice of working conditions separates base pay, allowances, payroll cutoff and payment date, which is a useful checklist when reading your own terms. The Ministry’s guidance on changing working conditions explains the rules around agreement and changes to work rules. Do not infer from the heading alone that every change has been settled; ask HR for the basis and written details if the amount or effective date differs from what you understood.
