Salary and payslip: from the simplest to the most complicated
You've already accomplished the most challenging part. You've worked abroad for a while and are now waiting for your salary. In principle, it will come with your payslip, an essential administrative document which, it is assumed, should be legible for everyone, with an understandable calculation method. However, the reality can be surprising for expats.
Regarding payroll, France is considered to have one of the most complex systems, followed by Belgium, Germany and Spain. Swiss and American payslips are easier to understand. Meanwhile, Mexico, the Netherlands, Indonesia and, especially the United Kingdom, have the most straightforward systems.
You're probably among those who just leave their payslip in a drawer. In fact, many people don't even bother to break down their payslips. But if you come from a country with a fairly simple system, such as the UK, you might be shocked when working in a country like France with so much bureaucracy, because salary is more than just a figure.
Behind these figures lie issues of labor law, collective agreements and trade unionism. Sometimes, rules and regulations may vary within the same country. In the United States, for example, each region can set its own regulations in terms of pay and payslips.
Part-payment
In some countries, employees are remunerated in several installments. In principle, nothing prevents this (at least, it all depends on the country's legislation). Therefore, you could end up not with the whole salary at the end of the month but with part of the salary being paid in several installments.
Many countries share the principle of a monthly salary paid by the employer. While the employer is free to choose the time of payment, it must be the same every month for obvious organizational reasons (on both your side and the employer's side). The employer is obliged to pay the salary regularly. Still, at the request of an employee, the salary can also be paid in several installments (as part of an advance payment, for example).
Amid the crisis, many workers are asking to receive their wages in installments, mainly to cope with the rising cost of living. There can be more constraints for expats, especially if the host country is bearing the brunt of inflation. In France, like in the United States, the United Kingdom, Senegal and Australia, more and more workers are asking for a split salary. This means receiving part of it at the beginning of the month and part of it later. Start-ups have joined the trend, introducing apps that allow workers to submit their requests for split pay directly. According to the app developers, this will save time, ensure efficiency and security, and avoid unpleasant surprises.
Weekly pay
If you are used to receiving your salary in your home country at the end of the month, you might be surprised to find out that your employer will pay you weekly. In Australia, salaries are paid on a weekly or fortnightly basis. This practice goes hand in hand with others, such as paying rent: you will often have to pay it weekly. That's why weekly pay is so useful. In Quebec, you could also be paid every fortnight.
However, there are some particular aspects to consider. Expats from countries where salaries are paid monthly claim that the faster frequency of weekly payments takes them aback. It feels like you're earning more because you're getting paid twice or four times. But weekly pay isn't your whole salary. At the end of the month, you're left with the same situation as if you'd received all your salary at once.
Conversely, expats who are used to receiving weekly pay may find it takes longer when they are in a country where salary is paid monthly. Again, adjustments are needed to get used to the new trend.
