More than employers, employees look forward to festive periods and this mostly has to do with the sense of celebration, companionship, and potential time off during the period. It provides a break from routine, boosting everyone's morale, coupled with bonuses, salaries, and goodies here and there. 

However, one practice common with a number of Nigerian companies is having to pay their workers before the festive period. Some organizations do not do this and would rather wait till the original payday to send out salaries. At the same time, there are other companies who feel like the best way to go about it is to let workers have their salaries before the festivity starts. 

Why should employees be paid before the festive period? 

Pay Day varies from one company to another, and so does the decision to pay employees before a certain festive period. The importance of paying employees before celebrations includes the following: 

• Employees can plan and budget for Christmas expenses.

• This approach reduces financial stress on the employees. There is no need to panic about where to get celebration funds. 

• Employees are more inclined to work and yield better results when they are rest assured that they will get paid on time. 

• It presents the organization as considerate and reliable. 

A lot of purchases are made during the festive period and organizations who are particular about how they want their employees to enjoy the period usually go ahead to pay them a few days before the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Another way to go about this is, if the company is the one that pays a 13th-month salary, then employees can be paid on two different dates that can be strategically decided by the company. However, the dates must be ones that can accommodate the financial needs of employees leading up to the festive period. 

This approach allows for flexibility in payment schedules, ensuring that employees receive both their regular salary and the 13th-month salary in a way that aligns with their holiday spending priorities. 

What do Nigerian workers think about payment before the festive period? 

Employees want to have enough money to enjoy themselves during the period. So, most employees like the idea of being paid before the celebration days come. This ensures they can afford gifts, travel, and festive activities without financial constraints. Timely payment aligns with the spirit of the season, allowing employees to create memorable moments with their families and friends. 

Furthermore, for the majority of employees, the decision made by their employers to pay them on time allows them to enjoy the holidays without the stress of financial constraints, it elevates their personal experience and also positively influences their engagement and dedication to their work.