Christmas bonus for trainees: How to secure the extra bonus!

Christmas bonus for trainees: How to secure the extra bonus!

An “extra boost” for finances: The Food-Gourmet-Gastronomy Union (NGG) recommends that all employees in the Duchy of Lauenburg carry out a “Christmas bonus check”. “Companies often forget to pay out the special payment that is stipulated in the contract,” explains Anne Widder, Managing Director of NGG Hamburg-Elmshorn. Trainees and mini-jobbers in particular are often affected and leave empty-handed. Even if Christmas bonuses are not required by law, many employees are entitled to them, especially in collectively agreed companies. In these companies, 77 percent of all employees receive Christmas bonuses, while on average it is only 52 percent, as an analysis by the Economic and Social Sciences Institute (WSI) shows herzogtum-direkt.de reported.

Christmas bonuses on the rise

According to a survey by the Federal Statistical Office, most employees in Germany who are bound by collective agreements can look forward to a higher Christmas bonus. An average of 2,747 euros is paid, which corresponds to an increase of 2.6 percent compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, the power of the Christmas bonus can only partially offset the high inflation rate of 10.4 percent. In eastern Germany, 88.5 percent of employees receive a Christmas bonus, while in the west only 85.3 percent receive it. Furthermore, the industry differences show that workers in oil and gas production do best at 5,504 euros, compared to just 327 euros for those in labor placement, such as tagesschau.de notes.

Given the persistently high inflation, Christmas bonuses are becoming more important than ever for many employees in order to cover the increased cost of living. The urge to sort out finances before the holidays is palpable. It is advisable to check your entitlements to ensure that you have the due payment in your account on time, which is particularly important for low earners and part-time workers.