Does it differ so much by sector? Although the thirteenth month may seem obvious to many employees, the
reality is less unambiguous.
We list the 7 most frequently asked questions and answers about the end-of-year bonus.
1. What is an end-of-year bonus?
The end-of-year bonus is a financial bonus paid to you as an employee at the end of the
calendar year. The end-of-year bonus is part of the salary, which means as much as it means taxes
and social security contributions must be paid on it. Usually the amount is about equal to one gross
monthly salary, hence the name ‘thirteenth month’. This gross amount is paid on top of the regular salary.
2. Who is entitled to an end-of-year bonus?
Not all employees receive an end-of-year bonus. Because contrary to what is commonly thought
becomes, there is no national legislation on the end-of-year bonus. Whether or not you are entitled to it depends
depend on the sector or company in which you are employed and is determined by a collective
labour agreement (CLA).
3. How is the end-of-year bonus calculated?
First of all, it is important to know that the calculation method for the end-of-year bonus differs for a
worker and a clerk. For white-collar workers, the amount is often equal to the December gross wage, while the
for workers (who are usually paid by the hour) is converted from the hourly wage to a monthly wage. The
Final rules, calculation and payout differ by sector and/or company and are described in the
Collective agreement or employment regulations.
Note that just like your regular salary, taxes and social security contributions are deducted. These
are slightly higher than those on gross pay, so the net amount of the end-of-year bonus will be slightly lower
than the net monthly salary.
4. How is my year-end bonus calculated if I did not work the full year?
There are several reasons why an employee works more or less in a year, which can have an effect
on the end-of-year bonus. They are usually included pro rata in the calculation of the end-of-year bonus.
For example: an employee is employed for 8 out of 12 months, then the end-of-year bonus is usually 8/12 of gross pay.
5. How much is my end-of-year bonus?
As mentioned earlier, the end-of-year bonus is taxed more heavily than the regular wage, making the calculation
is quite complex. Numerous tools can be found online that can help you calculate your
end-of-year bonus.
6. When is the end-of-year bonus paid?
In principle, the premium is paid in December.
7. Am I entitled to an end-of-year bonus after dismissal?
Whether or not you are entitled to an end-of-year bonus depends on whether you received your resignation or if you yourself received the
took the decision to leave.
Dismissal by employer
If you are dismissed by your employer, in most sectors you are still entitled to a pro rata
end-of-year bonus for the months you worked. However, this right expires if you are made redundant to
urgent reasons.
Resignation by employee
If you resign yourself, the cards are different. This is because then, in many cases, the right
on an end-of-year bonus. However, there are exceptions, which depend on the sectoral or
company collective agreement or employment contract, in which you do have the right to a premium commensurate with the period
that you worked.
Tip: inform yourself about this well in advance. That way you avoid surprises.
Do you have questions about your end-of-year bonus or its payment? We're happy to help!
