Christmas money: The cash registers ring so sweetly for the employees of the Dax companies

Created: 11/30/2022, 7:38 am

By: Fabian Hartmann

Millions of employees can look forward to Christmas bonuses.

Our editorial team asked the largest employers what they pay - and how they otherwise compensate for inflation.

Berlin – Christmas is just around the corner.

And millions of employees can also look forward to extra money this year - especially if they work in companies with a collective agreement.

As the Economic and Social Science Institute (WSI) of the trade union-affiliated Hans Böckler Foundation recently announced, 79 percent of employees in Germany receive a Christmas bonus.

For comparison: In non-tariff companies it is only 42 percent.

Average wages are also lower here.

Researcher: "Christmas money is more important than ever"

In view of double-digit inflation, many employees are happy about a Christmas bonus.

© Ingo Wagner/dpa (archive photo)

The fact is: In view of rising energy prices, employees can use every extra euro in their pockets this year.

The head of the VDI collective bargaining archive, Thorsten Schulten, says: "In view of historically high inflation rates, the Christmas bonus is more important than ever for many employees."

The federal government also wants to lend a hand: Employers can grant their employees up to 3,000 euros in addition – tax and duty-free.

But which company pays them?

Where and how much is the Christmas bonus?

And what else are companies doing to cushion the burden on workers from rising prices?

The

asked Germany's top companies.

Here is the result.

Deutsche Bank: Christmas bonus and 1500 euros tax and duty-free

At Deutsche Bank, “the vast majority of employees” can look forward to a Christmas bonus.

Germany's largest financial institution also pays its employees - provided they work full-time - a tax- and social security-free bonus of 1,500 euros.

This also applies to the subsidiaries in Germany.

Qiagen: Biotech company pays Christmas bonus - and increases meal allowance

Qiagen pays a Christmas bonus of one month's salary to "eligible employees".

In addition, employees in 20 countries that are particularly hard hit by inflation will receive a one-time bonus.

According to the company, half of the employees benefit from this overall.

The biotech company is also accommodating to the workforce in other respects: the food subsidy has been increased and price increases by the canteen operator have not been passed on.

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Allianz: 500 euros one-time payment and your own fund

Anyone who benefits from the general collective agreement at Allianz receives a Christmas bonus of 0.8 gross monthly salaries – as in previous years.

In addition, Allianz pays all employees 500 euros free of taxes and duties.

Part-time employees benefit proportionately.

Allianz has also set up an additional fund for employees with special needs, such as single parents.

Beiersdorf: Christmas bonus and a full 3000 euros for the employees

The Hamburg-based consumer goods group pays full-time employees a Christmas bonus of 230 euros, part-time employees get it proportionately, but at least 115 euros.

The child supplement is 62 euros.

Beiersdorf also pays its employees - in two tranches - the so-called "inflation money" of 3000 euros - this is one of the results of the collective bargaining agreement for the chemical industry.

Siemens Energy: Christmas bonus, a wage increase and inflation compensation

Salaried employees receive a Christmas bonus “of up to 55 percent of the average monthly salary”.

The most recent wage agreement in the metal and electrical industry also provides – in addition to a wage increase – a EUR 1,500 inflation compensation premium until February 2023 and a further EUR 1,500 until February 2024.

BASF: Full Christmas bonus and 3000 euros on top

BASF employees receive a full Christmas bonus, i.e. it corresponds to one month's salary.

According to the company, the chemical giant pays out around 119 million euros to its around 23,500 employees.

In addition, the employees receive – according to the wage agreement in the chemical industry – the tax- and duty-free one-time payment of 3,000 euros, divided into two tranches.

Vonovia: There is a willingness to help – but no information about the amount

The housing group from Bochum informed our editors: "We support the approach of the federal government to financially strengthen employees and their families in times of rising inflation and high energy prices.

We will decide in a timely manner in which form this will take place.”

EON: Christmas bonus yes, inflation compensation maybe

The energy group EON "welcomes the possibility of granting a tax- and social security-free inflation compensation premium" - although the company has not yet made a decision on the payment.

This should be part of the next tariff talks.

However, EON grants its employees bound by collective agreements a Christmas bonus.

The amount is up to a full monthly salary.

Adidas: There is a Christmas bonus – a special payment is being examined

As the sporting goods manufacturer reports, the employees will receive a Christmas bonus.

Adidas does not want to comment on the height at the request of the Munich Merkur.

Whether there is an inflation premium is not yet clear.

Adidas "is examining the implementation of a special payment in accordance with the legal regulations."

Merck: Germany employees get a Christmas bonus – and full inflation bonus

The employees at the chemical company Merck also benefit from collective bargaining agreements: they receive the inflation allowance of 3,000 euros in full, and the company also refers to other voluntary benefits such as a company pension scheme.

Merck employees in Germany can look forward to a 13th month's salary with their December salary.

Deutsche Post: Christmas bonus according to tariff group

Anyone who has worked uninterruptedly for at least twelve months at Deutsche Post receives a 13th monthly salary.

The amount depends on the tariff grouping.

With regard to the inflation premium, there is "no decision" at Deutsche Post, said a spokesman.

Daimler Truck: Christmas bonus depends on length of service - full compensation for inflation

In the metal and electrical industry, the amount of the Christmas bonus is determined by collective agreements.

It is 25 to 55 percent of a monthly salary - depending on the length of service.

Since Daimler Truck belongs to the metal and electrical industry, the employees also receive the full inflation allowance of 3,000 euros.

Continental: There is full inflation money for employees

Different collective wage agreements – both metal and chemical – are used across the group at Continental.

Both collective agreements provide for a bonus totaling EUR 3,000.

The non-tariff employees will receive an inflation premium of 1500 euros at the beginning of 2023.

The company from Hanover does not provide any information on the Christmas bonus.

Deutsche Telekom: Support for small and medium incomes

Telekom supports employees in the lower and middle wage groups with special payments totaling 1,000 euros - divided into this year and next.

The Bonn-based company announced that "there are currently no further plans" for further bonuses.

Fresenius: Collective bargaining agreement secures inflation allowance in full

The collective agreement of the chemical industry applies to the employees of the Fresenius health care group – with the exception of the employees of the Helios Kliniken.

So you will receive the 3000 euros in two tranches as tax and duty-free inflation money.

Part-time employees receive at least 500 euros, trainees exactly 500 euros.

The 13th monthly salary is also regulated in the collective agreement.

Henkel: Christmas bonus and full inflation compensation thanks to collective agreement

The Henkel Group pays its employees a 13th monthly salary.

In addition, thanks to the collective agreement, the employees benefit from a full inflation allowance of 3,000 euros, which is paid out in two tranches.

BMW: Employees get a Christmas bonus and 3,000 euros

At the Munich carmaker BMW, too, the Christmas bonus is based on the length of service.

In addition, BMW pays the full 3,000 euros for inflation compensation.

Heidelberg Materials: Employees “usually” get a Christmas bonus

At Heidelberg Materials, employees "usually" receive a 13th month's salary.

That regulates the collective agreement.

The company commented on other special services on request, only saying that they were "currently coordinating on this topic within the company".

Bayer AG: Full Christmas bonus, full inflation compensation

The approximately 13,500 employees at Bayer AG will again receive a Christmas bonus this year in the amount of a full monthly salary or a monthly training allowance, the Leverkusen-based group announced.

In addition, the employees receive the full 3,000 euros as a one-off tax and duty-free inflation allowance.

The company has not yet decided on benefits for non-tariff employees and executives.

MTU Aero Engines: There is a Christmas bonus – graded according to length of service

The Munich aviation company MTU Aero Engines pays its employees a Christmas bonus.

It can be up to 55% of a month's earnings, staggered according to length of service.

The employees also benefit from the adjustment for inflation, since they belong to the pay scale of the metal and electrical industry.

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Symrise: The Christmas bonus corresponds to one month's wages for employees covered by collective bargaining agreements

There is also a Christmas bonus at Symrise: for employees covered by collective bargaining agreements, it is equivalent to an average monthly salary.

The company is also negotiating an in-house wage agreement with the IGBCE trade union – the possibility of tax-free payment is part of the negotiations.

The company also announces that it subsidizes the food in its canteens with 50% of the price.