When 13 Becomes Desirable
In a couple of days in my country it is going to be Christmas.
Christmas is the time for giving and receiving for some, and the season to receive an additional pay called the 13th month pay and sometimes even a bonus.
The 13th month pay is given to employees who are within the range of employee types with whom they are mandatory recipients. But it is not given to all employees. And I even think that employers do not receive a 13th month pay unless they are also written as employees in the manpower roster. These are rules implemented and followed for decades. And this is probably the only way the number 13 is used in a desirable manner. Otherwise the number is considered not a good number for Fridays or a building’s floor.
The rules for handing out the 13th month is something I understand and think is fair enough, even if pro-rated for some. It gives a lot of people enough money for spending and/or saving before the year ends and stimulates a lot of trade. But there is something I am wondering about it.
If I am a butler, caregiver, child-carer, household helper, gardener, or driver can I also receive a 13th month pay?
If I am on retainer, can I include a 13th month retainer in my contracts with my clients?
If I am a business owner, am I allowed to have a 13th month pay not as an employee but as a business owner, with which any deductions from it shall be as a 13th month pay and not as profit.
There are so many people who do not have a 13th month pay because they are business owners.
For example, in real estate there is no such thing as a 13th month rental fee.
So, between an employer and an employee, the employees receive more pay than their employers because of the 13th month pay. Whereas, the employers can only receive their profits after all appropriate deductions have been made to their income. So if the business didn’t do well after all the deductions, they have less assured take home pay from profits than their employees who get an additional month’s pay, less appropriate minimal deductions, of course.
The 13th month pay is also a source of conflict. Some complain about it, some fight over it. But if you think about it and analyze it’s purpose, it was included in the employee’s pay because it stimulates the economy.
Then my wondering goes to this next question.
When I am a retiree and is then dependent on my retirement pension, do I also get a 13th month pension?
Anway,
Merry Christmas to everyone!
May everyone’s holidays be filled with great memories to keep for many lifetimes.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment