According to a survey by the Czech Chamber of Commerce, 41.8% of companies included in the regular "Chamber Barometer" survey offered their employees a "13th month" salary at the end of this year. Nearly a third of the respondents (29.5%) said they regularly offer this benefit every year, while 12.3% of companies decided to provide this additional payment to retain employees in a highly competitive labor market. However, 58.2% of companies did not pay the 13th month salary, but a significant portion of them increased their employees' regular monthly salaries.

The payment of the 13th month salary varies depending on the size of the company. Large companies are most likely to offer this benefit, with 53.2% paying it annually, and another quarter (25.5%) plans to do so this year to retain employees. Overall, nearly 80% of large companies reward their employees with additional bonuses. In contrast, the provision of the 13th month salary is less common in small and micro-enterprises, likely due to financial constraints.

Note: The graph does not include companies that selected the option "Not applicable/we don't know yet."

By industry, the highest percentage of companies offering the 13th month salary are in the manufacturing sector (44.4%) and construction (47.2%). Conversely, companies in the personal services sector are least likely to offer this benefit, with only 33.3% of respondents doing so.

"Historical data show that the payment of the 13th month salary is linked to the economic situation. During crisis periods, such as the pandemic year of 2020 or the energy crisis that began in 2022, companies significantly reduced this benefit. This year's percentage of 41.8% of companies that pay the 13th month salary represents only a slight increase compared to previous years and remains below the level of 2019. If the economy continues to stabilize, we can expect further expansion of this benefit," said Lenka Janáková, Director of the Department of Legislation, Law and Analysis at the Czech Chamber of Commerce.

Graph: Percentage of companies offering the 13th month salary in individual years.

The Czech Chamber of Commerce emphasizes that ensuring the competitiveness of companies in the labor market remains a key factor. In addition to the 13th month salary, companies also use other methods to retain quality employees, such as benefits related to meals, which have essentially become standard, or flexible working hours. However, the pressure to increase wages and provide additional bonuses remains a significant financial challenge for many small and medium-sized enterprises.

Czech Chamber of Commerce / gnews - RoZ

ILLUSTRATIVE PHOTO - pixabay