Did you know that in some cases in Italy, there aren’t just twelve monthly salary payments per year? Before Christmas, many employees also receive the “tredicesima”, a 13^th month’s pay. But it doesn’t stop there: some Italians also receive “la quattordicesima”, a 14^th month’s pay halfway through the year, an example of "deferred compensation" granted to some employees and pensioners.

Essentially, it’s an additional salary payment issued in June or July in the paycheck or pension slip. Unlike the tredicesima, which is mandatory by law for all employees, the quattordicesima month’s pay is regulated by individual or national collective contracts and is not automatically given to everyone: there are requirements that must be met, such as signing specific collective agreements or reaching a certain age and pension amount.