You’re working for free today, here’s why

As if getting into work on a Monday morning isn’t difficult enough, the realisation that you’re working for free makes it even harder.

Today is February 29, also known as ‘leap day’ – the extra day on the calendar which rolls around once every four years.

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The bad news for Aussies is that leap years present an odd compensation dilemma for employees who don’t get paid on an hourly basis – these workers receive a set salary for a typical year of 365 days.

For most employers, it doesn’t matter if leap years mean you’re working one extra day in the office unpaid, they still pay salaried workers the same amount.

In other words, every leap year there is on extra day, and no extra pay.

So if you’re a salaried employee slaving away at work today, you’ll likely be working for free.

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In fact, many argue that February 29 should be a public holiday.

For example, this year, online retailer Zappos has said it will give all of its 1,600 employees a paid day off – the move is in line with the launch of the hashtag campaign #taketheleap to promote its petition to get Leap Days declared a federal holiday.