Understanding Gratuity: Can Someone Explain What It Really Means?

Shweta.HR
Hi,

What is the meaning of Gratuity? Please explain in detail since I do not have any idea about this.

Regards,
Shweta
Amith R Murthy
Hi Shwetha,

It is the amount that will be paid for your continuous service of 5 years in a single company for a minimum of 240 days every year. This will be mainly calculated based on your basic salary from your last month. I have attached a reference file for you that contains the details on how to calculate Gratuity. Please refer to sheet 2 for the specifics. I hope this information will be useful to you. Feel free to reach out to me if you need any clarifications regarding the attached file.

Regards,
Amith R.
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Shweta.HR
Hi Amith R Murthy,

Rest all is OK, but where do those 15 and 26 come from? Please elaborate. I hope I am not expecting too much!!!

Regards,
Shweta
Amith R Murthy
Hi Shwetha,

Not at all. Let me clear your doubt. 15 is considered as the half-month salary, and 26 is considered to be the number of working days in a month, excluding 4 Sundays which you will have in most months. Hope it is clear for you now.

Regards,
Amith R.
Sanjeev.Himachali
Hi,

What is the meaning of gratuity? Please explain in detail since I do not have any idea about this.

Regards,
Shweta

It is a retirement benefit to be paid to employees, usually at the time of retirement. One becomes eligible for gratuity after completion of 5 years of service.
Shweta.HR
Hi Amith,

Please update whether it is applicable only for government employees or private employees as well? Also, under what circumstances can it be cancelled?

Regards,
Shweta
Amith R Murthy
Welcome Shwetha,

It is applicable for private employees as well. According to me, it can be canceled if an employee has not worked a minimum of 240 days in a year for any of the five years (other members, correct me if I am wrong). Apart from this particular case, even I don't have any idea.

One more thing to add is if an employee quits the company just 2 or 3 months before completion of five years, then also, he can still get Gratuity if he has worked for 240 days in the fifth year. Hope this is clear for you now.

Regards,
Amith R.
Ashok Kumar Mishra
Hi Swetha!

At the top of the Home page of this site, you will find a search bar. Just type the word "gratuity" there and go for it. You will find many related questions and answers on the subject which are sure to enlighten you on several dimensions.

Ashok
nithiselva
Hello all,

Adding to our friend's point, I would like to share the following:

Gratuity: Gratuity is the amount payable by the employer to the employee for his long and meritorious service in any company. Gratuity is payable under the Payment of Wages Act. It is calculated as follows:

Basic wages: Basic + DA + VDA

Last drawn salary: One month's salary, suppose if he worked only 6 days during the last month. Then we have to take the previous month's salary. Suppose if he worked less than 15 days, then we have to take the last six months' average salary.

Number of years of service: Total number of years of service from the present company. If he worked for two or more companies and the total number of years of service is 20, then we have to take the present company's total number of years of service only, say 10 years.

Gratuity: Last drawn salary x Number of years of service x 15/26.

One condition is he should have a minimum continuous year of service of 5 years. Minimum 240 days per year.

Suppose a person has worked for 10 years. But he has not worked 240 days for two years, then we need not pay gratuity for two years. But we have to prove that he has not worked for 240 days by giving a show cause notice and other relevant documents. Normally, the employer will not deduct gratuity for a particular year if he has not worked less than 240 days.

If a person has worked for 4 years and 10 months, then we have to see whether he has worked 240 days for the last year or not. Since 240 days in a year are defined in the Factories Act 1948.

I hope I made it clear all the doubts. Comments if any.

With regards,

K.V. Selvaraj.
Amith R Murthy
Hi Shwetha,

One point that is missed out is that the maximum gratuity is Rs 3.5 lakhs. In case it exceeds that amount, it is left to management to decide whether to pay or not. The amount above Rs 3.5 lakhs is taxable. For your reference, I have provided a link to another discussion on the same topic. I hope this will be of some use to you.

Link no longer exists - removed

Regards,
Amith R.
K. Sowmya
Hi friends,

Kindly let me know whether the gratuity amount should be given by the company or should it be deducted from the employee's salary. Is there any tax benefit for the company?

Thanks,
Sowmya
anil.bhoite
Dear All,

I have one query. In our organization, one of our employees has left his job after completing 4 years and 9 months of service. Please suggest to me if he is eligible for gratuity or not. This is very urgent. As per the Factories Act, he has not completed 240 working days in his last year of service.

Anil Bhoite
E RAVINDRA
Hi, I agree with Selvaraj; gratuity, as per the act, is payable to employees who have put in long service in a company. Therefore, whoever has completed 5 years of continuous service will be eligible for gratuity. Many companies have created a gratuity fund in LIC or in banks to keep a reserve. The calculations are the same as Selvaraj explained. There is a limit of Rs. 5,00,000.

Regards,
Ravindra
vineetsaini19
Dear All,

The following link will take you to the precise and complete information regarding gratuity calculation and its meaning: [Calculate Gratuity](http://profit.ndtv.com/Calculators/gratuity.htm).

Thanks & Regards,
Vineet Saini
swatinitinkumar1979
Thanks to all for providing information on gratuity. Could anyone please tell me if there are any tax benefits associated with gratuity?
simmialam
Hi Amith,

I tried to calculate my gratuity, but there is some problem with the formula for the total duration of service. Can you help with that as well?

Regards,
Simmi

coreshree
Dear Amit,

Can you please clarify for me whether a person should work for 240 days in all five years or in any of the five years?

Regards,
Shree
kediaamit11
Gratuity in CTC: Legal Considerations

My company has been showing the gratuity in my CTC. It is being displayed in the employer's part of the CTC. Is the company eligible to show the gratuity even if I have completed only 3 years with the company? Is the CTC structure legal as per the company act, considering they are including items such as bonus and loyalty bonus in the CTC?

Regards
R.N.Khola
Dear Member,

Please go through Section 4 of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 for clarification on the matter.

shreekanth.pr
For computing Gratuity, only Basic + DA + VDA is taken into consideration, and all the allowances you have mentioned above are excluded. In your case, 6 years of service are considered since a part of six months in excess is regarded as one year. Therefore, your Gratuity calculation will be 5050 * 15/26 * 6 (years) = 17480.

Regards,
Shreekanth.P.R
Sandipan1610
My question is, if anyone serves for 5 years and 4 months continuously, then what will be considered his service period when calculating the amount of gratuity? Would it be 5 years or 5.4 years?

Thank you.
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