About SafeRec Certification and Payslip Buddy

SmartWork is now SafeRec Certified

We’re pleased to announce that SmartWork has achieved SafeRec Certification, an independent accreditation that verifies our payroll processes meet the highest standards of compliance, transparency and accuracy.

This certification complements our existing industry accreditations and provides an additional layer of assurance that your pay is handled correctly and in line with HMRC regulations.

What SafeRec means for you

SafeRec certification ensures your pay is:

  • Processed through fully audited payroll systems
  • Cross-checked against HMRC Real Time Information (RTI) submissions
  • Continuously monitored to verify that all deductions and payments are accurate

In practical terms, SafeRec gives you confidence that your pay is managed properly and meets all HMRC compliance requirements.

Introducing Payslip Buddy

As part of our SafeRec certification, you now have access to Payslip Buddy, an optional service that independently reviews your payslips and helps you understand them clearly.

What Payslip Buddy does

Payslip Buddy is powered by AI technology that automatically audits every payslip you receive. The service helps you:

  • Verify that tax, National Insurance and other deductions are correct
  • Understand how your take-home pay is calculated
  • Identify potential issues early
  • Gain confidence in the accuracy of your payments

How to access Payslip Buddy

You’ll receive an email invitation from Payslip Buddy on the Friday evening following your first payment with SmartWork.

Please note: Payslip Buddy is completely optional. If you prefer not to use this service, simply ignore the invitation email, and you won’t be contacted again.

How it works

Once you’ve registered with Payslip Buddy:

  1. Your payslips are automatically reviewed each time you’re paid
  2. The AI-powered system checks all figures and deductions
  3. You receive clear breakdowns of your pay via the app or online portal
  4. Any compliance concerns are flagged to the relevant parties

The service makes complex payslip information easy to understand, breaking down deductions, taxes and benefits into clear terms.

Why SafeRec matters

From early 2026, new Joint & Several Liability (JSL) regulations will increase accountability across the contractor supply chain, with heightened focus on payroll compliance and transparency.

Whilst these changes primarily affect agencies and end-clients, they’re designed to protect workers and raise standards across the industry.

By achieving SafeRec certification now, SmartWork is demonstrating—independently and in real time—that our payroll processes already meet these enhanced standards.

Our commitment to you

SafeRec certification is part of SmartWork’s ongoing commitment to transparency and compliance. You can trust that:

  • Your pay is processed through fully audited systems
  • All deductions are verified against HMRC requirements
  • You have access to tools that help you understand your earnings
  • We’re prepared for the upcoming regulatory changes

Need help?

If you have questions about SafeRec certification, Payslip Buddy, or what this means for your pay, please contact your account manager, who will be happy to assist.

These developments represent positive progress for the umbrella industry, and we’re committed to maintaining the highest standards of service and compliance for all SmartWork contractors.