When you add these parts together, you get an adverb that means occurring every two weeks or every other week. The word weekly is an adverb and adjective that means occurring once in a week. A bicycle, for instance, has two wheels, and a bicameral legislature (like the one in place in the United States government) has two houses. I will use each of these words in a few example sentences to demonstrate how they should appear in context. Because “bimonthly” can mean either twice a month or once every two months, it’s a good idea to be clear when using the term.
- When the scheduled payday falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, you’ll typically issue paychecks on the closest business day before or after.
- In fact, the best way to approach payroll may be to use a combination of these methods.
- On a biweekly pay schedule, some months include an extra payday, giving workers three paychecks instead of two.
- Employees can align their weekly expenses, such as groceries or gas, with their paycheck cycle.
- With a bimonthly payroll, also called a semimonthly payroll, employees are paid twice each month.
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- It’s essential for organizations using this system to plan ahead and allocate sufficient cash to meet payroll and other obligations in months with an “extra” pay period.
- For employers, consider partnering with a payroll service provider to streamline your processes and ensure compliance with regulations.
- In payroll, this results in 24 paychecks per year, as opposed to bi-weekly, which has 26.
- To avoid confusion, it’s better to say “twice a month” or “once every two months” instead of using “bimonthly.”
- Pay frequency determines how often the business must process payroll and when employees receive their paychecks.
Bimonthly pay can also be challenging for HR in regard to hourly workers. Their week-by-week schedule doesn’t jive well with bimonthly pay, which could cut off hours in the middle of the week, depending on pay dates. When overtime is involved, bimonthly payroll might not work at all for hourly employees, although salaried workers aren’t affected. When employees are paid semimonthly, salaried workers receive the same amount to employees each month. The extra two paychecks for biweekly pay frequencies can make budgeting more challenging if the business doesn’t properly prepare for months with three paychecks.
With bi-weekly pay, employees can expect a consistent paycheck frequency, making it easier to plan and budget for expenses. However, since months do not have an exact number of weeks, the number of days in each pay period may vary slightly. As a result, employees may receive different amounts in difference between biweekly and twice a month their paychecks from month to month.
Deciding on a pay frequency for a small business is an important decision. Pay frequency determines how often the business must process payroll and when employees receive their paychecks. There are four common pay period options, including weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly. Two popular, yet easily confused, pay periods are biweekly and semimonthly. Knowing the difference between biweekly vs. semimonthly payroll can prevent financial setbacks, keep the business legally compliant, and more. Bi-monthly pay is a payment schedule in which employees receive their wages or salaries twice a month.
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A bi-monthly payroll schedule, on the other hand, more closely aligns with traditional billing cycles, including for employee benefits. If your headcount consists mostly of salaried employees, issuing paychecks twice monthly may simplify withholding calculations. Organizations with a large number of hourly employees may find it easier to calculate pay and overtime using a bi-weekly schedule. A bi-weekly payroll schedule will always cover two working weeks, which typically equals 80 working hours. To find your hourly workers’ compensation, multiply the fixed hourly rate by 80, and you’re done.
Cons of Bi-Weekly Pay
Semi-monthly means happening twice a month, often on set dates like the 1st and 15th. In payroll, this results in 24 paychecks per year, as opposed to bi-weekly, which has 26. Provides steady, frequent cash flow, aligning closely with most customers’ pay cycles.
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If the pay date falls on holiday, the payment shall be made by the employer the day before the holiday. The prefix semi- means half in a literal sense and can also mean partial in a less literal sense. Simple to forecast cash flow over long intervals, allowing straightforward, low-frequency projections. Lower administrative burden with just six billings a year, streamlining the process. Less frequent but highly predictable, allowing for straightforward budgeting.
Biweekly vs Bimonthly
Payroll processing for semi-monthly salaried employees differs from payroll processing for biweekly salaried employees. Full semi-weekly salaried employees receive payment for 86.67 hours each pay period. Companies that operate a semi-monthly payroll schedule pay their employees twice a month.
Employers who use a two-month payroll cycle pay their employees two times every month, usually on the 15th and the last day of the month. Determining whether bi-weekly or bi-monthly pay is better depends on individual circumstances, preferences, and financial goals. Each pay frequency has its own advantages and drawbacks, and what works best for one person may not be ideal for another. In the context of e-commerce/retail, “bi-monthly” means every two months, while “bi-weekly” means every two weeks. These terms are essential to clarify payment frequencies and scheduling in various business operations.
In fact, the best way to approach payroll may be to use a combination of these methods. Bimonthly pay could work best for salaried employees, while biweekly may be optimal for hourly employees, who then receive a more consistent paycheck. A subscription box service specializing in gourmet snacks bills customers monthly but faces challenges in cash flow management due to seasonal fluctuations in subscriptions. Also, customers occasionally have to juggle larger monthly payments, which impacts their overall satisfaction. The company switches to a semi-monthly model, billing customers consistently on the 1st and 15th of each month.
The schedules of hourly workers vary from week to week, especially if they have overtime, and biweekly pay aligns well with this week-by-week format. Biweekly pay is paid every other week on the same day of the week, usually giving employees two paychecks per month, with some months working out to three paychecks. Some companies refer to biweekly pay as getting paid twice a week, but that’s not a common usage of the term. Since bi-monthly pay divides the same annual salary into fewer pay periods, each paycheck is slightly larger than a bi-weekly paycheck. However, bi-weekly pay provides two extra checks per year, which can feel like a bonus during those months.
Balanced frequency that offers predictability with slightly less cash flow than bi-weekly. Occurs twice a month on set dates (e.g., 1st and 15th), totaling 24 payments per year. Bi-weekly model is often favored by businesses offering subscriptions, online education degree programs, or software as a service (SaaS). It allows them to maintain a consistent revenue stream and reduce the risk of defaults.
Employees always know when they’re getting paid, and more frequent paychecks can cushion workers against hardship from unexpected expenses. Bi-monthly pay means being paid every two months, totaling six paychecks per year. This schedule is rare, as most payroll systems use semi-monthly or bi-weekly pay for more frequent payments. It’s important to note that semi-monthly differs from bi-weekly payment, which occur every two weeks.
Bi-monthly vs. bi-weekly pay: pros and cons
Each pay period generally covers approximately half a month’s work, resulting in 24 pay periods per year. This consistency in pay amounts can facilitate easier budgeting and financial planning for employees, as they know exactly when to expect their pay and how much they will receive. With a bimonthly payroll, also called a semimonthly payroll, employees are paid twice each month. Most companies pay on the same dates every month, usually the 1st and the 15th.