Each FY I check that my employer has paid me and accrued annual leave correctly. In order to do so I request payslips, timesheets and annual leave balances. In the past I have received them in spreadsheet format. This year, they are only providing the information in PDF format, stating that it is against company policy to provide spreadsheets.
I can do the check but it is time consuming to extract data from a PDF. Is there legislation that compels employers to provide such information in a format that facilitates checking? To me, by providing it in PDF only the employer is intentionally making it much harder for these checks to occur, and it may appear like they have something to hide.
I don't believe so, I think its more for security purposes, a PDF can be moresecure vs a spreadsheet ( yes I know you can lock cells etc, password protect, read only) W
Who is to say they have changed their payroll package to perhaps an online system that exports out in PDF only, ie Xero?
I think you are throwing too many "what ifs" at this whole situation, does your pay go in every week okay without issues?, Do the hours on the PDF line up with what you've used, Do you keep copies of your annual leave (most employers send as a PDF attachment from the scanner back to you with dates and block out the outlook calendar with your holidays)
The employer is providing you the data, end of story they are fufilling your request and you seem to be making their life hard by complaining about the change of output format
With all respect have you actually asked the reasons why its changed rather than run like a bull through the gate making assumptions for the worst?