Dear Seniors,
I recently joined a small company after my MBA HR graduation, and I'm new to this field. My point is that this company provides free food and accommodation for employees, but their salary is very low. For example, "X" has a salary of 4,500, and his accommodation costs the company 6,500. His earnings are low compared to deductions. How should his salary be quoted in the payslip?
Thanks in Advance
From India, Eluru
I recently joined a small company after my MBA HR graduation, and I'm new to this field. My point is that this company provides free food and accommodation for employees, but their salary is very low. For example, "X" has a salary of 4,500, and his accommodation costs the company 6,500. His earnings are low compared to deductions. How should his salary be quoted in the payslip?
Thanks in Advance
From India, Eluru
Dear Feroz,
You can include the CTC. First, detail the earnings related to Food expenses and Accommodation, and then outline the same in deductions, which should equal the pay or salary slip.
Regards,
Giridhar
Organizational Expert
From India, Secunderabad
You can include the CTC. First, detail the earnings related to Food expenses and Accommodation, and then outline the same in deductions, which should equal the pay or salary slip.
Regards,
Giridhar
Organizational Expert
From India, Secunderabad
Dear Giridhar Sir,
Thank you so much for your support. Sir, could you please suggest under what head/column I should be adding F&A in the payslip? If you have a proforma of the payslip that includes Food and Accommodation, please provide me with that.
Thanks and Regards,
Feroz
From India, Eluru
Thank you so much for your support. Sir, could you please suggest under what head/column I should be adding F&A in the payslip? If you have a proforma of the payslip that includes Food and Accommodation, please provide me with that.
Thanks and Regards,
Feroz
From India, Eluru
Dear Feroz,
Why do you want to show a benefit as a part of the salary? Have you discussed how this expenditure by the company can come under fringe benefits if declared with the salary?
If your firm is offering a benefit or 'a non-cash reward', why include it in the payslip?
If you want to share the investment your firm is making on each employee, you might want to do it differently.
Here's my experience from a firm which used to claim the accommodation. We literally asked the firm to pay us the amount rather than making us stay where we didn't want to.
The same is the situation with the IT/BPO firms declaring the deductions for company transport. The employee may choose not to take it but avail the amount. This may not easily reflect as a loss, but try and think this in the long term. Imagine the firm spends X amount on transportation. If few employees claim money, that doesn't help the firm to take the transportation away. They still will have to spend and bear the cost. An incremental difference makes literally no sense while managing a very huge roster for the rest of the firm.
I am certain you have considered every repercussion before implementing it.
From India, Mumbai
Why do you want to show a benefit as a part of the salary? Have you discussed how this expenditure by the company can come under fringe benefits if declared with the salary?
If your firm is offering a benefit or 'a non-cash reward', why include it in the payslip?
If you want to share the investment your firm is making on each employee, you might want to do it differently.
Here's my experience from a firm which used to claim the accommodation. We literally asked the firm to pay us the amount rather than making us stay where we didn't want to.
The same is the situation with the IT/BPO firms declaring the deductions for company transport. The employee may choose not to take it but avail the amount. This may not easily reflect as a loss, but try and think this in the long term. Imagine the firm spends X amount on transportation. If few employees claim money, that doesn't help the firm to take the transportation away. They still will have to spend and bear the cost. An incremental difference makes literally no sense while managing a very huge roster for the rest of the firm.
I am certain you have considered every repercussion before implementing it.
From India, Mumbai
Dear (Cite Contribution),
Exactly my sentiments!
I do not understand why Mr. Feroz wants to show an inflated salary slip when the employees are not even getting the minimum wages.
On one hand, he is saying food is free, and on the other hand, he intends to show it in the salary slip.
The accommodation has been given for the convenience of the management and not the employees.
Even then, the accommodation costs Rs. 6500, and the salary is a pittance at Rs. 4500.
He has not given the details of the company, its business, or employees. But such a scenario is prevalent in many unorganized sectors, such as brick kilns, construction, etc., where forced labor is prevalent.
Or in textile/garment industries which are run as "sweatshops," meant only to exploit manual workers.
These constitute a nightmare for a conscientious HR, an HR with a conscience!
What is reflected from the query, how to include free food and accommodation in the salary slip, is a clear reflection and indication of this malaise.
Dear Feroze,
Once you include these amounts in the payslip, and an employee says that she (most likely a female employee, as evident from the case) does not want to avail of the company food and accommodation, then are you willing to pay it in cash?
Hope you have got enough information from the comments of seniors to understand the issue and proceed accordingly.
In any case, here we do not give suggestions or solutions to an issue that can be construed as unethical and unprofessional, as well as appears to be illegal (in case the Minimum Wages Act and Equal Remuneration Act are not being complied with).
Hope you will be able to explain to the company owners accordingly, just as an honest and upright CA/Company auditor or Internal Audit is able to put up its points to the management.
Warm regards.
From India, Delhi
Exactly my sentiments!
I do not understand why Mr. Feroz wants to show an inflated salary slip when the employees are not even getting the minimum wages.
On one hand, he is saying food is free, and on the other hand, he intends to show it in the salary slip.
The accommodation has been given for the convenience of the management and not the employees.
Even then, the accommodation costs Rs. 6500, and the salary is a pittance at Rs. 4500.
He has not given the details of the company, its business, or employees. But such a scenario is prevalent in many unorganized sectors, such as brick kilns, construction, etc., where forced labor is prevalent.
Or in textile/garment industries which are run as "sweatshops," meant only to exploit manual workers.
These constitute a nightmare for a conscientious HR, an HR with a conscience!
What is reflected from the query, how to include free food and accommodation in the salary slip, is a clear reflection and indication of this malaise.
Dear Feroze,
Once you include these amounts in the payslip, and an employee says that she (most likely a female employee, as evident from the case) does not want to avail of the company food and accommodation, then are you willing to pay it in cash?
Hope you have got enough information from the comments of seniors to understand the issue and proceed accordingly.
In any case, here we do not give suggestions or solutions to an issue that can be construed as unethical and unprofessional, as well as appears to be illegal (in case the Minimum Wages Act and Equal Remuneration Act are not being complied with).
Hope you will be able to explain to the company owners accordingly, just as an honest and upright CA/Company auditor or Internal Audit is able to put up its points to the management.
Warm regards.
From India, Delhi
As a matter of fact, I am also working with Ms. (Cite Contribution) and Mr. Raj Kumar. Your company will benefit from tax advantages for providing food and accommodation to employees under welfare-employees. However, displaying this on the payslip may lead to further issues. If the company takes advantage of reduced taxes while employees are burdened with fringe benefit tax, it is not acceptable. This approach would be detrimental to employees and could result in a higher attrition rate in your company.
As an HR professional, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of employees and act as their advocate when discussing these matters with management. If you align too closely with management and appear to be controlled by them, you may lose the trust and cooperation of your employees. It's essential to maintain a balance between company goals and employee interests to foster a positive work environment.
From India, Kumbakonam
As an HR professional, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of employees and act as their advocate when discussing these matters with management. If you align too closely with management and appear to be controlled by them, you may lose the trust and cooperation of your employees. It's essential to maintain a balance between company goals and employee interests to foster a positive work environment.
From India, Kumbakonam
Thank you so much seniors for helping me out and with lot of your time and effort.I would raise the same to my boss because I am just an employee not an employer. With Regards Feroz
From India, Eluru
From India, Eluru
Think of employees and the company both. By treating them in which manner, who will benefit? If there is a tax reduction for the company, then treat it differently, and if there is a tax benefit for employees, then treat it differently. Being a business organization, focus on the cost part rather than on overheads and other expenses.
From India, Bangalore
From India, Bangalore
I think I could guess the purpose of the employer. As we know, the CTC is what the employer spends for the employees apart from salary which is booked as expenses in the books of a/cs of the firm and accordingly IT computations takes place. It's seen in many employer that they aimed at showing the lowly paid employees as how much they really costs to the firm and wished to show all put together > Rs.10000 and it's not only Rs.4500.
Re.Fringe benefits, subject to the exemptions, whether shown included in the salary or stated separately under diff. heads these exp. gets added but still the FBT is payable, if applicable (as it is abolished in 2009 in the hands of employer)
Pl.read -01.12.2009
"The Indian government abolished the Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) as part of its 2009-10 budget on 6 July 2009. This amendment, which shifts the burden of taxation on fringe benefits from employers to employees, will come into effect on 1 April 2010.
Fringe Benefit Tax was introduced in the 2005-06 fiscal year as a tax paid by employers on the portion of employee benefits not included within an employee’s salary. This included entertainment, gifts, concessional tickets for private journeys, employee stock options, etc.
As a result of the amendment, however, fringe benefits will now be taxed as perquisites and treated as taxable income. Employees will also be taxed on any sweat equity shares they own (shares given to employees on favourable terms), or employee stock ownership plans they participate in. They will also be taxed on any contribution in excess of INR 100,000 (USD 2,075) to an approved pension fund made by plan sponsors on their behalf."
In some firms the employer pays some Taxes incl. IT & FBT for and on behalf of the employees also.
From India, Bangalore
Re.Fringe benefits, subject to the exemptions, whether shown included in the salary or stated separately under diff. heads these exp. gets added but still the FBT is payable, if applicable (as it is abolished in 2009 in the hands of employer)
Pl.read -01.12.2009
"The Indian government abolished the Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) as part of its 2009-10 budget on 6 July 2009. This amendment, which shifts the burden of taxation on fringe benefits from employers to employees, will come into effect on 1 April 2010.
Fringe Benefit Tax was introduced in the 2005-06 fiscal year as a tax paid by employers on the portion of employee benefits not included within an employee’s salary. This included entertainment, gifts, concessional tickets for private journeys, employee stock options, etc.
As a result of the amendment, however, fringe benefits will now be taxed as perquisites and treated as taxable income. Employees will also be taxed on any sweat equity shares they own (shares given to employees on favourable terms), or employee stock ownership plans they participate in. They will also be taxed on any contribution in excess of INR 100,000 (USD 2,075) to an approved pension fund made by plan sponsors on their behalf."
In some firms the employer pays some Taxes incl. IT & FBT for and on behalf of the employees also.
From India, Bangalore
Dear Feroz,
It's obvious employers provide various perks either as part of the salary package or in addition to the salary. Some examples of such perks are as follows:
1. Free or subsidized food provided in the canteen or through food coupons (e.g., Sodexo).
2. Free or subsidized transport.
3. Free or subsidized housing/accommodation.
4. Free or subsidized provisions, household articles, vehicles either directly or through employees' societies.
5. Leave Travel Allowance (LTA).
6. Interest-free or concessional interest loans.
7. Allowances for the maintenance of houses, furniture, vehicles, gardens/housemaids, newspapers/magazines, and fuel subsidies.
8. Provision of clothing (applicable in hilly regions) and remote location allowances based on the work location.
9. Allowances for higher studies and specialized training.
Imagine if all or some of these perks were added as a part of the salary in monetary terms and the impact on the inflated gross salary. Consider the consequences in the computation of Provident Fund (PF), Professional Tax (PT), Employee State Insurance (ESI), Gratuity, Bonus, leave encashment, and both employers' and employees' contributions towards these benefits. Ultimately, think about the impact on personal Income Tax (IT).
In reality, subsidized or free food and transport do not directly affect personal Income Tax. However, when these perks are converted into a part of the gross salary, either through a "contra" method or other means, it could impose an unbearable burden on both sides. Therefore, it's essential to carefully evaluate all aspects and implications before making a decision.
Thank you.
From India, Bangalore
It's obvious employers provide various perks either as part of the salary package or in addition to the salary. Some examples of such perks are as follows:
1. Free or subsidized food provided in the canteen or through food coupons (e.g., Sodexo).
2. Free or subsidized transport.
3. Free or subsidized housing/accommodation.
4. Free or subsidized provisions, household articles, vehicles either directly or through employees' societies.
5. Leave Travel Allowance (LTA).
6. Interest-free or concessional interest loans.
7. Allowances for the maintenance of houses, furniture, vehicles, gardens/housemaids, newspapers/magazines, and fuel subsidies.
8. Provision of clothing (applicable in hilly regions) and remote location allowances based on the work location.
9. Allowances for higher studies and specialized training.
Imagine if all or some of these perks were added as a part of the salary in monetary terms and the impact on the inflated gross salary. Consider the consequences in the computation of Provident Fund (PF), Professional Tax (PT), Employee State Insurance (ESI), Gratuity, Bonus, leave encashment, and both employers' and employees' contributions towards these benefits. Ultimately, think about the impact on personal Income Tax (IT).
In reality, subsidized or free food and transport do not directly affect personal Income Tax. However, when these perks are converted into a part of the gross salary, either through a "contra" method or other means, it could impose an unbearable burden on both sides. Therefore, it's essential to carefully evaluate all aspects and implications before making a decision.
Thank you.
From India, Bangalore
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