allowance
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allowance
An additional amount of money paid on top of the base salary or basic wage for special work, difficult conditions (e.g., night work), or as social compensation (e.g., child allowance).
Für die Arbeit an Feiertagen erhalten die Mitarbeiter eine steuerfreie Zulage von 50 Prozent.
For working on public holidays, employees receive a tax-free allowance of 50 percent.
The word 'Zulage' (allowance) is derived from the verb 'zulegen', which means 'to add'. So a 'Zulage' is literally something that is 'added' to the normal salary.
Er bekommt eine Zulage, weil er zusätzlich Verantwortung übernommen hat.
He receives an allowance because he has taken on additional responsibility.
Common verbs used with 'Zulage' (allowance) are 'eine Zulage erhalten/bekommen' (to receive/get an allowance) or 'eine Zulage zahlen/gewähren' (to pay/grant an allowance). The reason is often given with the preposition 'für' (for).
Alle Mitarbeiter erhalten eine Zulage für die Nachtschicht.
All employees receive an allowance for the night shift.
'Zulage' (allowance) is a formal term from the world of work and administrative language. You typically find it in employment contracts, payslips, and official documents.
Die genaue Höhe der Zulage ist im Tarifvertrag festgelegt.
The exact amount of the allowance is specified in the collective agreement.
bonus
'der Bonus' and 'die Zulage' can both be extra money on top of regular pay. A bonus is often paid as a reward for good performance or as an incentive, and it can be a one-time payment. An allowance is usually a fixed additional amount added to wages or salary, for example for night work, difficult work, or because of a particular life situation. The words can be confused because both can appear on a payslip. 'Bonus' sounds more performance-related and sometimes voluntary, while 'Zulage' sounds more regulated and tied to a specific reason.
Für die Nachtschicht erhält Maria jeden Monat eine Zulage.
Maria receives an allowance every month for working the night shift.
Er bekommt am Jahresende einen Bonus, weil die Verkaufszahlen sehr gut waren.
He gets a bonus at the end of the year because the sales figures were very good.