今年,全球通脹創歷史紀錄,令各國央行陷入恐慌,并且影響到上班族的錢袋子。
在美國,總統喬·拜登等政客都在哀嘆高物價,甚至與“對美國人漫天要價的”石油公司進行了強硬談判。但政府并沒有采取太多能夠直接影響民眾收入的措施。
德國的做法截然不同。德國政府宣布將對最高3,000歐元的通脹獎金免稅,該政策持續到2024年。德國總理奧拉夫·朔爾茨在今年9月表示,公司可以自己決定是否發放通脹獎金,但他還說:“我相信如果員工在約定工資之外收到一筆免稅收入,他們會很高興?!?/p>
據路透社(Reuters)引用咨詢公司韋萊韜悅(WTW)的調查稱,自從德國政府宣布這項新政策以來,有許多公司為員工提供了一些支持,約有一半的公司預計將支付這類通脹獎金。
大眾公司(Volkswagen)是最近一家為德國員工發放年終通脹獎金的企業。大眾公司在上周宣布將向員工發放3,000歐元稅后獎金,另外對某些員工加薪8.5%,持續兩年。
該公司向《財富》雜志確認,這筆獎金將在2023年2月發放2,000歐元,在2024年1月發放1,000美元。
公司的工會談判代表阿恩·邁斯溫克爾稱:“薪資協議不能掩蓋我們必須繼續嚴格控制成本的事實。這是我們以必要的速度繼續轉型并確保競爭力和就業機會的基本前提?!?/p>
其他公司也宣布了類似的決定,只是這些公司發放的通脹獎金低于政府設定的總免稅限額。今年11月初,德意志銀行(Deutsche Bank)表示將向德國員工發放1,500歐元。德國商業銀行(Commerzbank)于幾天前宣布發放2,000歐元獎金。意大利貸款機構裕信銀行(UniCredit)在11月表示,將向德國員工一次性發放2,500歐元。
似乎意大利也注意到了德國鄰居的做法。意大利政府在兩周前批準了90億歐元補助計劃,其中部分補助將用于幫助本國雇主發放免稅獎金。據韋萊韜悅表示,法國和奧地利也在執行類似的政策。
雖然通脹獎金肯定會受到工人歡迎,但許多工會依舊在與雇主進行艱難的漲薪談判,因為幾年前確定的薪資協議并沒有考慮到通脹突然上漲的情況。
一些未執行政府通脹獎金政策的國家,也向員工發放了額外獎金,但這種情況較為罕見。英國汽車廠商勞斯萊斯(Rolls-Royce)向員工發放2,000英鎊獎金,并在7月承諾加薪,以幫助員工應對英國的通貨膨脹。美國勞氏公司(Lowes)在8月向員工即其所稱的“合伙人”,發放了通脹獎金,但美國只有少數公司這樣做。
勞氏公司的首席執行官馬文·R·埃里森在季度營收會議上說:“合伙人在我們公司從事最重要的工作,他們致力于為客戶提供一流體驗,我們非常感激他們所付出的一切?!保ㄘ敻恢形木W)
譯者:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
今年,全球通脹創歷史紀錄,令各國央行陷入恐慌,并且影響到上班族的錢袋子。
在美國,總統喬·拜登等政客都在哀嘆高物價,甚至與“對美國人漫天要價的”石油公司進行了強硬談判。但政府并沒有采取太多能夠直接影響民眾收入的措施。
德國的做法截然不同。德國政府宣布將對最高3,000歐元的通脹獎金免稅,該政策持續到2024年。德國總理奧拉夫·朔爾茨在今年9月表示,公司可以自己決定是否發放通脹獎金,但他還說:“我相信如果員工在約定工資之外收到一筆免稅收入,他們會很高興?!?/p>
據路透社(Reuters)引用咨詢公司韋萊韜悅(WTW)的調查稱,自從德國政府宣布這項新政策以來,有許多公司為員工提供了一些支持,約有一半的公司預計將支付這類通脹獎金。
大眾公司(Volkswagen)是最近一家為德國員工發放年終通脹獎金的企業。大眾公司在上周宣布將向員工發放3,000歐元稅后獎金,另外對某些員工加薪8.5%,持續兩年。
該公司向《財富》雜志確認,這筆獎金將在2023年2月發放2,000歐元,在2024年1月發放1,000美元。
公司的工會談判代表阿恩·邁斯溫克爾稱:“薪資協議不能掩蓋我們必須繼續嚴格控制成本的事實。這是我們以必要的速度繼續轉型并確保競爭力和就業機會的基本前提?!?/p>
其他公司也宣布了類似的決定,只是這些公司發放的通脹獎金低于政府設定的總免稅限額。今年11月初,德意志銀行(Deutsche Bank)表示將向德國員工發放1,500歐元。德國商業銀行(Commerzbank)于幾天前宣布發放2,000歐元獎金。意大利貸款機構裕信銀行(UniCredit)在11月表示,將向德國員工一次性發放2,500歐元。
似乎意大利也注意到了德國鄰居的做法。意大利政府在兩周前批準了90億歐元補助計劃,其中部分補助將用于幫助本國雇主發放免稅獎金。據韋萊韜悅表示,法國和奧地利也在執行類似的政策。
雖然通脹獎金肯定會受到工人歡迎,但許多工會依舊在與雇主進行艱難的漲薪談判,因為幾年前確定的薪資協議并沒有考慮到通脹突然上漲的情況。
一些未執行政府通脹獎金政策的國家,也向員工發放了額外獎金,但這種情況較為罕見。英國汽車廠商勞斯萊斯(Rolls-Royce)向員工發放2,000英鎊獎金,并在7月承諾加薪,以幫助員工應對英國的通貨膨脹。美國勞氏公司(Lowes)在8月向員工即其所稱的“合伙人”,發放了通脹獎金,但美國只有少數公司這樣做。
勞氏公司的首席執行官馬文·R·埃里森在季度營收會議上說:“合伙人在我們公司從事最重要的工作,他們致力于為客戶提供一流體驗,我們非常感激他們所付出的一切?!保ㄘ敻恢形木W)
譯者:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
Inflation hit record highs around the world this year, sending central banks into panic mode and hitting the pocketbooks of workers everywhere.
In the U.S., politicians like Joe Biden have bemoaned higher prices and even engaged in some tough talk about oil companies that “gouge the American people.” But the government has done little in terms of directly influencing the pay of citizens.
The picture looks very different in Germany, though, where the government said it would waive taxes on inflation bonuses of up to 3,000 euros through 2024. Chancellor Olaf Schlotz said in September that it’s up to companies if they want to implement those bonuses or not, but added: “I am sure that employees will be happy to receive a tax-and duty-free payment in addition to the agreed wage.”
Since the government announced the new policy, a slew of companies have stepped up to give their workers a little boost, and about half of companies are expected to pay those types of bonuses, Reuters reported, citing a survey from the WTW consulting firm.
Volkswagen is the latest company to provide an end-of-year inflation bonus for its German workers, announced at last week the company will pay them 3,000 euros after taxes, in addition to an 8.5% wage hike over a two-year time span to some specific employees.
That will be split up into a 2,000 euro payment in February of 2023, and a 1,000 payment in January of 2024, the company confirmed to Fortune.
“The wage agreement must not obscure the fact that we must continue to keep our costs strictly under control,” said the company’s union negotiator Arne Meiswinkel. “This is the basic prerequisite for continuing our transformation at the necessary speed and securing our competitiveness and jobs.”
Other companies have also made similar announcements, though they have given less than the total tax-free limit set by the government. Earlier November, Deutsche Bank said it would pay 1,500 euros to its employees based in Germany. Commerzbank announced a 2,000 euro bonus a few days earlier. And Italian lender UniCredit said in November that it would make a one-off payment of 2,500 euros to its German staff.
It seems that Italy is taking notes from its German neighbors. The Italian government approved an aid package worth 9 billion euros at two weeks ago, part of which will go to helping employers in that country pay out tax-free bonuses of their own. France and Austria are implementing similar policies, according to WTW consulting.
While those inflationary bonuses will certainly be welcome news to workers, many unions are still struggling to negotiate higher wages after locking in agreements years ago that did not take the sudden inflation spike into account.
In countries that are not implementing government inflation bonus policies, some countries have given workers extra money, but they are more rare. British car manufacturer Rolls-Royce paid employees a bonus of 2,000 pounds and promised a wage increase in July to help them cope with inflation in the U.K. And in the U.S., companies like Lowes offered inflation bonuses to its workers, which it calls associates, in August, though it is in the minority of companies to do so.
“These associates have the most important jobs in our company, and we deeply appreciate everything they do to serve our customers to deliver a best-in-class experience,” CEO Marvin R. Ellison said on a quarterly earnings call.