⚡ Purpose
In 2026, some biweekly payroll schedules will naturally include 27 pay periods instead of the usual 26 due to how the calendar falls. Note that the number of pay periods is calculated based on the number of pay days in the year. Full-time employees would still work 80 hours biweekly.
This change primarily affects salaried employees paid on an annual basis. Hourly employees are not impacted, since they are paid based on hours worked each pay period.
This is a calendar-based occurrence, not a system error, but it does require an intentional decision.
📌 | Note: This article applies to accounts running bi-weekly payroll schedules that include 27 paydays in the 2026 calendar year.
🔐 Access Required
Available to accounts with an active Payroll Add-On. Some features may also depend on your current subscription tier (e.g., the Supreme package).
If you’d like to review your account setup or confirm which features are enabled for your team, feel free to contact our Support Team at support@pushoperations.com. We’re happy to assist or connect you with the relevant team if needed.
Who can access and manage these features?
- Super Administrators: Access to request adjustments to payroll frequencies.
- Team Administrators: Do not have access to request adjustments to payroll frequencies.
📋 Topics covered in this article:
- Why a decision is required for bi-weekly payrolls in 2026
- Which employees are impacted by a 27-pay-period year
- How annual salaries are affected by an extra payday
- How to decide which payroll approach is right for your business
📚 Related articles:
Why a Decision Is Required in 2026
Bi-weekly payroll schedules follow a fixed two-week cadence. Most years include 26 paydays, but in 2026, the calendar results in an additional payday falling within the same year.
Because payroll will run for all 27 scheduled paydays, businesses must decide how annual salaries should be calculated across those pay periods.
📌 | Important: The decision is not about payroll frequency; it’s about how annual salaries are distributed when an extra payday occurs.
Which employees are impacted by a 27-pay-period year
In a year with an additional bi-weekly payday, how much an employee earns over the course of the year depends on how their pay is structured.
| Employee Type | What this Means |
| Hourly Employees | No impact. Hourly employees are paid for the hours they work each pay period, regardless of how many paydays fall in the year. |
| Salaried Employees (annual pay) | Review required. Because salaries are typically configured using 26 pay periods, an extra payday may result in higher total annual earnings unless adjustments are made. |
Understanding Your Payroll Choices for 2026
Because 2026 includes 27 bi-weekly paydays, businesses running bi-weekly payroll must decide how to calculate annual salaries.
The platform supports both approaches to handling salaried pay in a 27-pay-period year.
In simple terms, the decision comes down to whether:
- Annual salaries will continue to be calculated using 26 pay periods, which results in an additional paycheque when a 27th payday occurs.
- Annual salaries are spread evenly across all 27 pay periods, keeping total annual pay the same but adjusting each paycheque amount.
The example below shows how these two approaches affect an employee’s pay throughout the year.
Example: How an Extra Payday Affects Annual Salary
Bob earns $50,000 per year, paid bi-weekly.
What happens by default (no changes):
- Bob continues receiving his regular bi-weekly amount of $1,923.08
- Because there are 27 pay periods, Bob receives:
- His normal pay × 27
- One additional paycheque
- Bob earns more than $51,923.08 in 2026
| Payroll Approach | Paycheque | Annual Payroll | What This Means |
| Salary calculated using 26 pay periods | $1,923.08 | $51,923.08 | Employee receives the same amount they are used to, but total annual payment is more than the employees agreement. |
| Salary spread across 27 pay periods | $1,851.85 | $50,000.00 | Annual salary stays aligned with the employment agreement, but need to communicate the reduced pay per paycheque. |
Next Steps: Choose How Salaried Pay Should Be Handled in 2026
Once you’ve reviewed how a 27-pay-period year works and which employees are impacted, the next step is to decide how salaried pay should be handled in 2026.
There are three possible approaches. The option you choose determines whether action is required in your account and how salaried employees should be prepared for the change.
Option 1: Keep Salaries Calculated Using 26 Pay Periods
If you choose this option:
- No changes are made to your payroll setup
- Salaried employees continue receiving their usual bi-weekly amount
- One additional paycheque is issued in 2026
- Total annual payroll cost increases
When this option makes sense: This option works well if you’re comfortable with the additional payroll cost and prefer not to make changes to how salaries are calculated.
Option 2: Spread Salaries Across 27 Pay Periods
If you choose this option:
- Annual salaries are recalculated and spread evenly across 27 pay periods
- Each paycheque is slightly smaller than employees may be used to
- Total annual earnings remain aligned with employment agreements
- No additional payroll cost is introduced
To use this option, you’ll need to contact our Support Team at support@pushoperations.com so the salary-spreading feature can be enabled in your account.
📌 | Important: We strongly recommend communicating this change to salaried employees in advance. Because individual paycheques will be slightly lower, clear communication helps avoid confusion and ensures employees understand that their total annual salary remains unchanged due to the additional pay period in 2026.
When this option makes sense: This option is ideal if you want to keep annual salaries aligned with employment agreements and avoid an increase in total payroll costs.
Option 3: Adjust Salaries Manually
If you choose this option:
- Salaries are intentionally increased or rebalanced
- Changes are managed internally by your team
- Total payroll impact depends on your approach
When this option makes sense: This option may be appropriate if you’re applying a custom compensation strategy for 2026 and are prepared to manage communication and adjustments manually.
Additional Information
Need further help? Contact our Support Team at support@pushoperations.com or utilize our AI bot, Astra, for quick assistance.
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