What is the difference between wages and benefits?

Wages and benefits are two different types of compensation that an employee may receive from an employer. Wages are the money an employee is paid for the work they do for the employer. This is typically based on an hourly rate that is set by the employer and is paid each pay period. Benefits are different from wages and refer to the additional types of compensation an employee may receive from an employer beyond their salary or wages. Benefits can include things such as health insurance, paid vacation days, and retirement contributions. The main difference between wages and benefits is that wages are based on the hours an employee works and the hourly rate set by the employer, while benefits are additional incentives meant to provide employees with extra compensation and support that may include health insurance, paid vacation days, and retirement contributions. Wages are usually taxed, while benefits may be taxed depending on the benefit. For example, retirement contributions may be made on a pre-tax basis, meaning they are exempt from taxes. Additionally, benefits may not be as flexible as wages, since most benefits are based on company policies and can make it difficult or impossible to customize or change them. Overall, wages and benefits are two different forms of compensation that employers may provide to their employees, with wages based on hours worked and benefits intended to provide additional compensation and support.

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