GJ GROEP, is pleased to inform you about all aspects of work and career. Of course, hardly anyone works purely for pleasure. There is, therefore, something in return: the salary, also known as wages. Employers have the choice to pay their employees monthly, every four weeks, or weekly. Although the latter is not the standard, many people still encounter it. Your employment contract stipulates the period over which your wages are calculated. If this applies to a weekly period for you, then the information on this page will be of interest.
When do you receive a weekly wage?
In the case of a weekly wage, you receive your salary after each week you work. As we mentioned above, it is not the most common form of payment. Nevertheless, it occurs frequently. For example, with temporary agency staff, especially for roles that only need to be filled for a (very) short period. Temporary jobs are often seasonal. This includes, for instance, the agricultural sector, but also hospitality or retail. Some flexible employment contracts also involve a weekly wage. Payment then takes place on a fixed day of the week.
What is the difference between a weekly wage and a monthly salary?
The difference between a weekly wage and a monthly salary is therefore simple: the distinction lies in the frequency of payment. In the case of a weekly wage, you receive your salary weekly. If you receive a monthly salary, your employer pays you every month. Usually, a weekly wage depends on the specific number of hours you work. This can also be the case with a monthly salary, but it more often involves a fixed number of hours. Did you know that ‘loon’ (wages) and ‘salaris’ (salary) used to refer to slightly different things? ‘Loon’ was for those who worked with their hands, and ‘salaris’ for those with an office job. That distinction has now completely disappeared.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being paid weekly?
Being paid weekly often sounds appealing. After all, you receive an amount deposited into your account every week, so you will rarely be completely without funds. However, this also means you need to be good at planning and budgeting. Your fixed expenses are debited once a month, so it is important to set aside a necessary amount each week to cover them.
Calculating your weekly wage
Do you receive a monthly salary but are curious about what your weekly wage would amount to? You only need a simple calculation for this. Contrary to popular belief, you do not simply divide your monthly salary by 4. A month almost never has exactly 4 weeks. What you do, however, is multiply your monthly salary by 3. You then divide that amount by 13, because 3 months always have 13 weeks.
