Restgehalt

Restgehalt is a German term used in payroll and employment law to describe the portion of earnings that remains unpaid at a given time. It denotes the portion of wages that is earned but not yet disbursed, typically arising in situations of payroll timing, contract termination, or retroactive wage adjustments.

In practice, Restgehalt may occur when a monthly salary is paid after the end of the month, when an employee leaves and must be paid for the days actually worked in the final pay period, or when there are retroactive corrections to pay that have not yet been settled. The exact calculation depends on the employment contract, collective agreements, local law, and the company’s payroll policies.

When handling Restgehalt, employers typically include it in the next regular payroll or in a final settlement upon termination. Employees are entitled to all earned wages, and disputes about Restgehalt fall under general wage claims and labor dispute resolution.

It is important to distinguish Restgehalt from other concepts such as advance payments, bonuses, or severance payments, which may be treated separately. Restgehalt is specifically the portion of earnings that remains outstanding for a period already worked and is expected to be paid in the near term.

Etymology: Rest means remaining, and Gehalt means salary.