Work Now, Pay Later

Monthly wages are the norm in much of the world-but for many workers, long waits for earnings create real financial stress and unnecessary hardship

- by JASON RAHLAN

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL TOP THE list of desired destinations for digital nomads and aspiring expats for more than a few good reasons. They have delicious food, temperate climates, fascinating art and architecture, and relatively low costs of living compared to much of Europe.

Their worker-friendly employment policies include over a month of paid time off for vacation and public holidays, as well as four months of paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers. Particularly enticing may be the bonus paychecks for employees in both June and December to help families enjoy the summer and winter holidays.

But that’s not the only payroll quirk that makes these countries unique, and the other one might make some wannabe Madrileños or Lisboetas think twice. If you work for an employer based in either country, you will only be paid once every month. It’s a legal requirement that’s common not only throughout much of Europe, but also Central and South America.

For those of us accustomed to the more common biweekly pay cycle in the U.S., it’s easy to imagine the challenges this may present for family budgets—especially for workers on the lower end of the income spectrum. But monthly pay is more common in the U.S. than you might think. Nearly 11 million American full-time workers still get paid this way, including many public sector employees. But whether you're in Porto or Pittsburgh, there’s little reason for unnecessary delays in giving people money they’ve already earned.