Definition of pay cheque

The term "pay cheque" originally derived from the practice of paying employees through a paper check, known as a "cheque" in British English. The first written references to the phrase appear in the late 19th century, as the demand for standardized payroll systems increased with the advent of industrialization. A "pay day" traditionally referred to the day on which a worker received their wages, usually once a week or bi-weekly. Employers would prepare payrolls and issue checks to employees, which they could cash at their local bank or store with a "pay stub" detailing their earnings and deductions. Over time, as more employees opted to have their payrolls deposited directly into their bank accounts, the term "pay cheque" evolved to reflect this change. Today, the phrase "pay cheque" is still commonly used in some parts of the world, particularly in British English, while in the United States and other Anglophone countries, it has largely been replaced by the term "paycheck." However, the concept of a payment issued by an employer to compensate an employee for their work remains a crucial aspect of modern economics and financial systems.