One: A Script Header for Every Month
Each page opens with a colour band across the top and the month name in white Great Vibes script, with a spaced line below reading 2027, SEMI-MONTHLY PAYROLL. Two faint circles overlap the band. The accent changes by month, from amber in January to deep green in December, so a quick flick through the set looks like a rainbow of paydays.
Two: A Roomy Month Grid
Below the band sits a month grid spanning the page width, with weekend cells tinted warm grey and day names in white on the accent colour. Paydays are marked by a dark ring in the lower right of the cell, over a fill in the accent colour. Holidays carry a small grey square in the same corner.
Three: Two Payday Cards
At the bottom of every page, two white cards with a thick accent outline sit side by side. The left reads MID MONTH PAYDAY, the right MONTH END PAYDAY. Each shows the date in large type, such as Fri May 14 or Fri May 28, with an asterisk if it moved, and a line reading Timesheets due followed by that deadline date.
Four: What the Dates Look Like
January shows Fri Jan 15 and Fri Jan 29. February shows Fri Feb 12 and Fri Feb 26. March shows Mon Mar 15 and Wed Mar 31. April shows Thu Apr 15 and Fri Apr 30. The set continues through December, which shows Wed Dec 15 and Thu Dec 30. Nine of the 24 dates carry asterisks.
Five: Why Cards Rather Than a Table
Semi-monthly pay gives exactly two dates per month, which fits two cards neatly. A table would be overkill, and a list would leave space. Cards give each date a clear label and equal weight, and they keep the lower third of the page balanced against the heavy header at the top.
Six: How the Timesheet Line Works
The deadline is four business days before payday, skipping weekends and observed US federal holidays. For Fri Jan 15, it is Mon Jan 11. For Fri Jan 29, it is Mon Jan 25. For Fri Feb 12, it is Mon Feb 8. The line on each card is plain text, so you can change the lead time if your provider needs more notice.
Seven: The Asterisk Rule
An asterisk means the date moved to the previous business day because the 15th or the last day was a weekend or an observed holiday. A small italic footnote at the bottom of each page says so and adds that a ringed date is a payday and a grey square is a US federal holiday. Edit it if you pay on the next business day.
Eight: Portrait for Binders and Boards
A portrait page fits a standard binder, a clipboard, and a notice board slot. It also suits printing two to a sheet at half size for a small desk calendar. The page is tall enough for the month grid to stay comfortable and for the two cards to breathe.
Nine: Editing a Single Month
The template has twelve pages. Select the page you need and edit its text, ring positions, or colours. If your paydays are different, change the card labels, retype the dates and move the rings. Other pages will not change, which is helpful when a policy changes from a certain month.
Ten: Using Calendar Options
Each month grid is a Calendar object. In Calendar Options, you can choose the year, set Monday as the week start, change colours, and adjust font sizes. After any change to the year or week start, move the rings to match. They are separate grouped shapes laid over the grid.
Eleven: Changing the Colour Scheme
If you prefer one scheme for the whole year, recolour the band, the day name row, the card outlines, and the ring fills on every page. Pick a darker colour than the cell text and make sure white text on the band and day names stays easy to read. Print a test page and check the contrast.
Twelve: A Planning Page for Managers
Managers can use a page as a one-month plan: write team deadlines on the grid, note planned leave, and tick the dates they have confirmed. The big cells have room for a few words. For longer notes, use the margin or a separate sheet, and keep the page as a visual summary.
Thirteen: Using the Pages With Other Months of the Set
The semi-monthly year at a glance calendar and the semi-monthly schedule table in this collection use the same 24 dates. Keep the year view on the wall, this set on the desk, and the table in the binder. The same dates in three layouts make it much easier to catch a typo.
Fourteen: Printing the Set
Print portrait on Letter at actual size with background graphics. The band is a large block of colour, so use a laser printer for twelve pages. For a draft, print only the months you need. If hole punching, the left margin is clear of content.
Fifteen: Sharing Electronically
Download a PDF for email or a shared drive. Each page keeps its colours, and the type stays sharp. You can also export an individual page as an image for a team chat, which is handy for a reminder in the week before a payday.
Sixteen: Limits and Cautions
The page shows the planned pay date. Banks can take a day to post funds, and payroll rules differ between countries and states. The holiday squares are US federal holidays only. If you work elsewhere, replace them with your own. Always confirm dates with the person or provider who runs your payroll.
Seventeen: Quick Facts
Twelve portrait pages. Twenty-four paydays. Nine moved dates. A deadline line on each card. Editable text, shapes and colours. A Calendar object for each month.
Seventeen and a Half: Handing the Pages to Staff
A single page for the current month, taped beside a time clock, answers the question employees ask most: when do I get paid? Replace it on the first of each month. People notice the change in colour and look at the new card, which is a small habit that saves a good deal of back-and-forth with the payroll desk.
