Question

On January 1, 2021, G Corporation agreed to grant all its employees two weeks paid vacation each year, with the stipulation that vacations earned each year can be taken the following year. For the year ended December 31, 2021, G's employees each earned an average of $800 per week. A total of 500 vacation weeks earned in 2021 were not taken during 2021. Wage rates for employees rose by an average of 5 percent by the time vacations actually were taken in 2022. What is the amount of G's 2022 salaries expense related to 2021 vacation time?

Answer 1

Answer: $20,000

Explanation: This question deals with Compensated Absence.

A compensated absence refers to paid holidays and other paid time off. According to accounting principles, expenses are recognized in the same period they are incurred. When it comes to compensated absences that are deferred to a later year (or period), the amount must be recorded as a liability in the year they are incurred.

Because of this, $40,000 (an average of $800 per week for a total of 500 vacation weeks) will be charged to 2021 expense as a liability.

The amount of salaries expense related to 2022 compensated absence is the average 5% pay rise in 2022.

The amount is therefore 5% X $800 X  500 weeks = $20,000