Employment Insurance(EI) and the various types of earnings

What you should know
What we mean by "earnings"
You are responsible for reporting all your income
The various types of earnings
Your normal weekly earnings
What are earnings paid or payable?
Choosing the appropriate allocation period
Statutory holidays
Pensions
Vacation Pay
Compensation for Work Accidents and Occupational Illnesses

What you should know

Earnings paid or payable by your employer at the end of your employment, while you are receiving benefits or later for a period that benefits were claimed, generally affect payment of your benefits. Furthermore, some earnings paid or payable upon separation can:

Delay the start date of your claim
Delay the 2-week waiting period to serve
Delay the date on which you begin receiving benefits
Reduce the amount of benefits
Provide the right to an extension of the benefit period

It is important to note that section 35 of EI Regulations determines what income constitutes earnings, while section 36 of EI Regulations sets out how those earnings are to be allocated.

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What we mean by "earnings"

Earnings are any amount paid or payable that is related to or originated from employment, such as:

Wages or salary and commissions.
Monetary employment benefits, such as vacation pay, severance pay, wages in lieu of notice, retirement pension, statutory holidays, bonuses, etc.
All other employment benefits, monetary or otherwise, such as housing, meals, insurance coverage, etc.
Self-employment income.

Compensation received following loss of your employment or from other sources may also be considered as earnings for benefit purposes, for example, certain workers’ compensation benefits, group — collective — wage-loss insurance. However, other moneys and payments for benefits not related to employment do not constitute earnings for benefit purposes, for example, alimony payments, lottery winnings or inheritances.

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You are responsible for reporting all your income

You are responsible for reporting any income paid or payable to you, as well as any benefits, cash or other, received from an employer or income that you earn from any self-employment activities.

For us to be able to determine whether the amounts or benefits paid or payable are earnings for EI benefit purposes, we must determine the true nature of the payment. To reach this decision, we may ask the following questions:

What does the payment represent, meaning, the amount and type of payment?
Who made the payment?
Why was the payment made? Meaning the reason for the payment and the terms and conditions under which the payment was made.
Where did the payment come from and where is it going?

The earnings considered are the amount before deductions. Earnings paid in foreign funds are converted into Canadian dollars at the current exchange rate at the time the earnings were paid or became payable.

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The various types of earnings

Several types of earnings may be paid or payable upon separation or during a benefit period. A type of earnings, however, can be paid for different reasons. You can refer to the earnings chart to find out if a payment constitutes earnings for benefit purposes and, if so, how those earnings are allocated.

Your normal weekly earnings

Some earnings shown on the earnings chart are allocated at the rate of your normal weekly earnings. Generally, your normal weekly earnings correspond to your regular weekly salary, before deductions, from your employment that paid the earnings. When you receive a weekly wage, the normal weekly earnings are calculated by multiplying the number of hours normally worked per week by the hourly wage rate. See the conversion examples…

Conversion examples for determining normal weekly earnings

Your hourly rate of pay is $10.00 per hour and you normally work 40 hours per week. The normal weekly earnings will be $10.00 x 40 = $400.00 .

Your bi-weekly salary is $800. The normal weekly earnings will be $800 ÷ 2 = $400 .
Your semi-monthly salary is $866.66. The normal weekly earnings will be $866.66 x 24 ÷ 52 = $399.99 .
Your monthly salary is $1,733.33. The normal weekly earnings will be $1,733.33x 12 ÷ 52 = $399.99 .
Your yearly salary is $20,800. The normal weekly earnings will be $20,800 ÷ 52 = $400 .

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In addition to wages paid for normal and overtime hours, the normal weekly earnings can also include regular shift premiums, incentives or cost of living allowances, a percentage paid as vacation pay included with each pay, and commissions paid at regular intervals or other amounts.

We generally use the information regarding your normal weekly earnings according to the answer you provided on your application for benefits. This is accepted and used unless the amount seems unreasonable or the information is incorrect. If such is the case, we determine the amount of your normal weekly earnings. Your normal weekly earnings correspond to that seen in 85% of the weeks used in calculating your benefit rate whenever your normal weekly earnings vary. See examples 1, 2 and 3...

Example 1

You work 35 hours per week at $9.50 per hour. Because you work evenings, you receive a shift premium of $0.50 per hour. Since starting work last year, you have worked evenings, with the exception of your first 2 weeks of work. Your normal weekly earnings will be: 35 x $10.00= $350.00. In this example, the shift premium is included with the hourly rate because you earned that wage regularly for more than 85% of your employment period.

Example 2

You normally work on a day shift for 40 hours per week. You earn $10.00 per hour for the day shift. You receive a shift premium of $0.25 per hour for the evening shift and $0.35 per hour for the night shift. Since starting work 8 months ago, you have worked 3 weeks of evening shifts and 6 weeks of night shifts. Every Thursday, you work 3 hours of overtime at $15.00 per hour. Your normal weekly earnings will be 40 hours x $10,00 + 3 hours of overtime x $15.00 = $445.00. In this example, the shift premium is not included, as you only worked evenings or nights for approximately 15% of your employment period. However, the overtime is included, as you worked it every Thursday.

Example 3

You work on call, earning $9.00 per hour. On your application for benefits, you indicated that you worked 10 to 20 hours per week. When we questioned you further, you were unable to be more specific. In this type of situation, we averaged the number of hours worked and determined that your weekly earnings will be 15 hours x $9.00 = $135.

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What are earnings paid or payable?

When it is determined that a payment is earnings, we must allocate those earnings. To be able to do this, it must be determined whether they have been paid or are payable.

Earnings are considered "paid" when you have actually received and accepted the payment. The concept of "paid" combines the offer of payment from your employer or other individual with your acceptance of the payment. Earnings are also considered "paid" when you are expecting the payment to be in your possession shortly, usually in the employer’s next payroll run. This is generally the case with the following earnings: wages and salary, vacation pay paid with each pay, periodic pensions and separation pay. Earnings are also considered to have been paid when the amount is directly deposited in your bank account or used as satisfaction of a debt of yours.

Earnings are "payable" when your employer is required to pay you and you can legally demand payment. For EI purposes, earnings are only considered payable when the obligation of the employer or other person to pay the earnings is immediate and not when the obligation to pay occurs at a later date. This means that only earnings that are payable immediately will be allocated for EI benefit purposes. Earnings that are due some time in the future will be considered and allocated when the employer is obligated to pay them and only if the payment is for a period when benefits were claimed.

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Choosing the appropriate allocation period

Once it has been determined that earnings have been paid or are payable, the appropriate allocation period must be chosen. When allocating earnings, we consider the following 3 factors:

The type of earnings,
the amount before deductions, and
if the amount was paid for a specific work period, if it was paid by reason of a lay-off or separation or for some other reason.

All earnings that an employer paid by reason of a lay-off or separation are allocated from the week of the lay-off or separation, based on the normal weekly earnings for that employment, no matter the period for which the earnings are supposed to be paid or payable. These earnings include all amounts paid to compensate the worker for the loss of employment, such as, pay in lieu of notice, severance pay, damages for wrongful dismissal and closure bonuses and any payment of unused employment benefits to which the employee is entitled, such as vacation pay and accumulated sick leave credits. See example 1...

Example 1 (calendar available)

Your employment ended on August 25, 2005 due to a plant closure and you are not expected to return. In the week of August 29, 2005, you apply for regular benefits. Your normal salary was $500.00 per week. Following your lay-off, your employer paid you the following:

Your salary for the week of 22 to 25 August 2005: $400.00
Vacation pay: $600.00
Severance pay: $1,500.00

The wages, vacation pay and severance pay are earnings and are consequently deductible from your benefits. The vacation pay and severance pay are earnings allocated as follows, based on the normal weekly earnings for that employment.

August 21 to 27, 2005: Salary of $400 + Vacation pay of $100
August 28 to September 3, 2005: Vacation pay of $500
September 4 to 10, 2005: Severance pay of $500
September 11 to 17, 2005: Severance pay of $500
September 18 to 24, 2005: Severance pay of $500
September 25 to October 1, 2005: 1^st week of waiting period to serve
October 2 to 8, 2005: 2^nd week of waiting period to serve
October 9 to 15, 2005: EI benefits paid

In this example, the allocations of these earnings have the following effects:

Delays the required 2-week waiting period to serve
Delays the date on which you begin receiving benefits
Allows a 4-week extension of your benefit period

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When the earnings were not paid due to a lay-off or separation, the allocation period is determined based on the type of earnings paid or payable and the reason for payment. For example, earnings paid under the terms of a contract of employment in exchange for services rendered must be allocated over the period during which the services were rendered even if they are paid at a later date. For instance, the wages for the performance of services are payable for the number of hours or days that you worked, meaning the period during which the work was performed. See example 2...

Example 2 (calendar available)

Your claim for benefits begins June 5, 2005. You served the 2-week waiting period from June 5 to 18, 2005. Your weekly benefit rate is $350. During your claim, you work part-time for 3 weeks, from July 6 to 28, 2005. On August 5, 2005, your employer pays you $925 as wages, which represent:

$300 for July 6, 7 and 8, 2005
$125 for July 13, 2005
$500 for July 25, 26, 27 and 28, 2005

This income is earnings and is allocated as follows:

July 3 to 9, 2005: $300 salary for July 6, 7 and 8, 2005
July 10 to 16, 2005: $125 salary for July 13, 2005
July 17 to 23, 2005: No salary or other income earned; you receive your EI benefits.
July 24 to 30, 2005: $500 salary for July 25, 26, 27 and 28, 2005

In this example, although your employer paid your salary as a lump sum, it is allocated over the periods during which the work was performed.

Earnings payable under the terms of an employment contract without services being provided or earnings payable by an employer in consideration of returning to or beginning work must be allocated over the period for which they are payable. For instance, the compensation allowance that you receive to return to work or begin work for an employer, compensatory leave financed by the number of overtime hours worked in addition to your normal work week or the portion of your salary that is set aside when you work in order for you to be paid during your period of leave. These amounts are allocated over the period for which they are payable. See example 3...

Example 3

Over a period of 5 years, 1/5 of your salary was set aside for the first 4 years to ensure you income for a one-year leave during the 5^th year. In this example, the portion of the salary that was set aside during the period worked will be paid to you during your leave period. This income is considered earnings and is allocated over the leave period, meaning for the period for which the earnings are payable.

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Statutory holidays

The term "Statutory holidays" refers to legal holidays and provincial holidays designated by the federal or provincial government. Employers often use the same term to refer to those holidays set out by a custom or a collective agreement.

Earnings for a statutory holiday are part of the overall earnings from any job. Payment received for a statutory holiday is allocated to the week in which the statutory holiday in question falls.

A statutory holiday can fall before or after lay-off or separation or during the benefit period. Payment made for specific statutory holidays is, nonetheless, always allocated to the week in which the statutory holiday falls because the reason for the payment is, in fact, your entitlement to the statutory holiday and not by reason of any lay-off or separation. See example 4...

When the employer and the union agree that a statutory holiday be observed on another day, the earnings paid for that statutory holiday are allocated to the week in which that new day falls, to the extent that such terms are dictated by a custom or a collective agreement. However, if it is shown that the change in statutory holiday was made solely to bypass the EI Act, the earnings will be allocated to the week of the actual statutory holiday.

Example 4 (calendar available)

You have been receiving EI benefits since October 9, 2005. On December 7, 2005, your former employer pays you $375.00 for the statutory holidays of December 25, 26, 2005 and January 1, 2006.

This income constitutes earnings and is allocated as follows:

December 25 to 31, 2005: $250 for the statutory holidays of December 25 and 26, 2005
January 1, 2006 to January 7, 2006: $150 for the statutory holiday of January 1, 2006

In this example, even though your employer paid the 3 statutory holidays as a lump sum amount, it is allocated to the week in which each statutory holiday in question falls.

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Pensions

Pension income resulting from any employment constitutes earnings for benefit purposes. These include:

Employer pension plans, including employment as a member of the Armed Forces or any police force. This also applies to pensions from employment in another country, whether or not the employment was insurable.
The Canada Pension Plan
The Quebec Pension Plan

Pensions income resulting indirectly from employment do not always constitute earnings. In the following cases, all or part of the pension is not considered to be earnings:

The pension of an individual who requalifies for EI benefits after the date on which payment of the pension begins.
Disability pensions from employment as well as disability pensions from the Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan

The following pensions do not arise from your employment and, for that reason, do not constitute earnings for EI benefit purposes:

Personal Pension Plans such as a Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) or a Registered retirement income funds (RRIF).
Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC) to a pension fund.
Survivor’s pensions or dependant’s pensions.
The portion of the pension payable to you as a spouse — in the case of legal separation or divorce.
Veteran’s pensions from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The following pension earnings are not considered payable until the pension or annuity arising from these pension credits becomes payable:

Pension credits left in a pension plan to support a deferred pension or used to purchase an annuity. These pension credits are not considered as earnings for EI benefit purposes until the person applies for the deferred pension or the deferred annuity becomes payable.
Pension credits transferred by the employer to a locked-in, non commutable RRSP, such as a Locked-in Retirement Account (LIRA) in Manitoba or a Compte de Retraite Immobilisé (CRI) in Quebec that is locked in and non-commutable until retirement age. These pension credits are not considered as earnings for EI benefit purposes until an annuity is purchased with the proceeds from the account.
Pension credits transferred to the pension fund of another employer if the new pension plan permits this transfer. The pension credits are not considered as earnings for EI benefit purposes until a pension arises from the new pension plan.

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The pension amount before deductions is allocated to the period for which it is paid or payable, no matter when or how it is paid. How the pension amount will be allocated varies according to whether it is paid on a periodic basis or as a lump sum.

Pension paid on a periodic basis

Pension amount paid periodically by month for the rest of the person’s life
Amount can increase or decrease over time
Amount paid is the amount payable for the specific period, based on 5 days per week from Monday to Friday.
The pension amount payable each month is converted to a weekly amount as follows:
The monthly amount is multiplied by 12.
The result is divided by 52.
The weekly amount is rounded to the nearest dollar. See example 5...

Pension paid as a lump sum

Pension amount paid as a lump sum
Designed to replace monthly pension payments
For benefit purposes, the lump sum amount is converted to a weekly amount in accordance with Schedule II of EI Regulations —this schedule indicates the weekly annuity equivalent, based on the person’s age, for each $1,000 portion of the lump sum payment.
The weekly earnings value is converted as follows:
The lump sum amount is divided by 1,000.
The result is multiplied by the weekly annuity equivalent in Schedule II of EI Regulations.
The weekly earnings amount to allocate is rounded to the nearest dollar. See example 6...

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Example 5 (calendar available)

Your employment ends on October 7, 2005 and you are entitled to a monthly retirement pension of $2,000 as of October 12, 2005.

The weekly and daily pension amounts are converted as follows:

Weekly = $2,000 x 12÷ 52 = $461.53 rounded to $462.00
Daily = $462.00 ÷ 5 = $92.40

The pension is allocated as follows:

October 9 to 15, 2005: $92.40 x 3 = $277.20 rounded to $277.00
From the week of October 16, 2005, $462.00 is allocated to each week until the end of the benefit period, unless the pension amount increases or decreases

In this example , because the day on which the pension payment began is a Wednesday, the daily amount of $92.40 is multiplied by 3, for October 12, 13 and 14, 2005.

Example 6 (calendar available)

You worked 23 years for the ABC company. On July 8, 2005, you retire and a lump-sum pension amount of $93,000 is payable to you as of July 14, 2005.

You are 59 years old at the time when the lump-sum payment is payable. According Schedule II of EI Regulations, the weekly annuity equivalent for each $1000 for a person 59 years old is $1.66.

The weekly and daily pension amounts are converted as follows:

Weekly = $93 000 ÷ 1,000 x $1.66 = $154.38, rounded to $154.00
Daily = $154.00÷ 5 = $30.80

The pension will be allocated as follows:

July 10 to 16, 2005: $30.80 x 2 = $61.60, rounded to $62.00
From the week of July 17, 2005: $154.00 is allocated to each week until the end of the benefit period. Since this is based on the conversion of a lump-sum pension, the amount of this pension allocation remains constant for the duration of the benefit period

In this example, because the lump-sum pension is payable on Thursday, July 14, 2005, the daily amount of $30.80 is multiplied by 2, for July 14 and 15, 2005.

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A pension income is not considered to be earnings for EI benefit purposes when an individual requalifies for EI benefits after the date on which payment of the pension begins. The following criteria must be met for the pension not to be considered earnings to be deducted from benefits:

After the date on which the pension became payable,
and while receiving your pension,
you worked and accumulated the necessary number of insurable hours to establish a claim, and
that claim is calculated using the insurable hours accumulated after the start of the retirement pension. See example 7...

Example 7 (calendar available)

You ended work for the ABC company on March 4, 2005. From that date, you will receive a retirement pension of $369 per week from that employer for the rest of your life. You begin a new job with DEF company. Between March 21 and August 19, 2005, you accumulate 600 insurable hours with this new employer.

On August 22, 2005, you file a claim for regular benefits. The unemployment rate in your region is 9.8%. You are thus required to accumulate 560 hours of insurable employment to be entitled to benefits. You have accumulated 600 hours of insurable employment.

In this example, after the start date of your pension payment, March 5, 2005, you worked for employer DEF and accumulated 600 hours of insurable employment. Your claim is established and calculated using the insurable hours accumulated after payment of your pension began. As a result, your pension of $369 from employer ABC is not considered as earnings and will not be deducted from your benefits.

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Vacation Pay

Vacation Pay is employment income and is earnings when it is paid or payable. There is, however, an exception when the vacation pay constitutes savings rather than earnings. This is the case when an employer, union or agency acts in trust and the vacation pay is credited to an employee and accumulated in a trust account.

Allocation of vacation pay depends on the reason for which it is paid and not the date upon which the payment is made. Vacation pay can be paid or payable:

By reason of a lay-off or separation
For a specific vacation period
For a specific vacation period that coincides with other circumstances
On an anniversary date
Included on each pay check
At the employee’s request.

When vacation pay is paid by reason of a lay-off or separation, the amount is allocated, based on the normal weekly earnings, to consecutive weeks from the week when the person was laid off or separated from employment. When the amount of the last week of work is less than the normal weekly earnings, the allocation of the vacation pay can start in that week and be added to the earnings for the last week worked to bring them to the normal weekly earnings. See example 8...

Example 8 (calendar available)

Your employment ends on September 7, 2005 due to a work shortage. On September 12, 2005, you file a claim for regular benefits. Your normal weekly earnings are $500. For your last week, you earned $300. Your employer paid you a vacation pay of $756.

Your vacation pay will be allocated as follows:

September 4 to 10, 2005: $300 salary and $200 vacation pay
September 11 to 17, 2005: $500 vacation pay
September 18 to 24, 2005: $56 vacation pay

In this example, a portion of the vacation pay is added to the amount of earnings in the last week worked to bring the earnings in that week to the normal weekly earnings of $500.

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When the vacation pay is paid for a specific vacation period, it is allocated solely to that vacation period, based on the normal weekly earnings. The date that the vacation pay was actually paid is not taken into consideration when allocating this vacation pay to a specific vacation period. For instance, when a workplace closes every year for a general vacation period, that period is considered to be the vacation period unless otherwise indicated. See example 9...

Example 9 (calendar available)

On June 3, 2005, your employer paid you a vacation pay of $1,520 due to the plant closing for the general vacation during the period from June 12 to 25, 2005. Your salary for your last week of work from June 5 to 11 is $650, your normal weekly earnings are $650. You returned to work on June 27, 2005.

The vacation pay is allocated as follows:

June 5 to 11, 2005: $650 salary
June 12 to 18, 2005, general vacation period: $650 vacation pay
June 19 to 25, 2005, general vacation period: $650 vacation pay
June 26 to July 2, 2005: Return to work

In this example, although the vacation pay was paid a week before the plant’s planned shutdown for vacation, it was paid for the general vacation period, as a result, the date on which the vacation pay was paid is not taken into consideration in allocating the vacation pay.

In fact, because the vacation pay is allocated based on normal weekly earnings of $650, to the specific vacation period of June 12 to 25, 2005, the balance of $220 as vacation pay is ignored, meaning $1,520 - $1,300 = $220, as the amount can only be allocated over the actual specific vacation period.

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When the specific vacation period coincides with other circumstances, such as lay-off or separation or an anniversary date, the following 3 criteria must be met in order for the vacation pay to be allocated solely to the specific vacation period:

The vacation period must have been scheduled by agreement between the employer and employee.
There must be a link between the payment of the vacation pay and the right to a period of time off for a vacation.
The individual must be considered an employee during the vacation period. See examples 10 and 11...

Example 10 (calendar available)

On April 30, 2005, anniversary date, your employer pays you a vacation pay of $850. You have already agreed with your employer to take your vacation from May 15 to 28, 2005 and are considered to be employed during the vacation period. Your salary for your last week of work from May 8 to 14 is $425 and your normal weekly earnings are $425.

Your vacation pay is allocated as follows:

April 24 to April 30, 2005: $425 salary
May 1 to 7, 2005: $425 salary
May 8 to 14, 2005: $425 salary
May 15 to 21, 2005, vacation period: $425 vacation pay
May 22 to 28, 2005, vacation period: $425 vacation pay

In this example, although your employer paid your vacation pay on April 30, 2005, on the anniversary date, it is allocated to your specific vacation period, which you had scheduled with your employer, and you were considered to be an employee during that period.

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Example 11 (calendar available)

During your employment, you agree with your employer to take your vacation from June 19, 2005 to July 2, 2005. However, on May 27, 2005, you are laid off due to a work shortage and your employer pays you your outstanding vacation pay of $956. Your salary for your last week of work from May 22 to 28 is $425 and your normal weekly earnings are $425.

Your vacation pay is allocated as follows:

May 22 to 28, 2005: $425 salary
May 29 to June 4, 2005: $425 vacation pay
June 5 to 11, 2005: $425 vacation pay
June 12 to 18, 2005: $106 balance of vacation pay

In this example, you were laid off prior to the expected date of the vacation. Consequently, you are no longer considered an employee during the planned vacation period. The vacation pay is therefore considered to be earnings paid as result of the lay-off.

Vacation pay paid on an anniversary date is allocated based on your normal weekly earnings, from the week of the anniversary date so that the vacation pay earnings in each week are equal to your normal weekly earnings. In allocating these earnings, other earnings, such as salary, are not taken into account. See example 12...

Example 12 (calendar available)

Your employer pays the vacation pay May 1^st of each year. On May 1^st, 2005 you are working full time and have not planned any vacation time when your employer pays you your vacation pay of $1,000. Your normal weekly earnings are $625.

Your vacation pay is allocated as follows:

May 1 to May 7, 2005: $625 vacation pay and $625 salary
May 8 to 14, 2005: $375 vacation pay and $625 salary

In this example, the only reason for payment of the vacation pay is the anniversary date, consequently, it is allocated from the week of payment. The salary earned is not considered in the allocation of the vacation pay paid under this circumstance.

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Vacation pay paid with each pay cheque is allocated over the period in which the vacation pay is earned. Generally, vacation pay is a percentage of salary and is part of the employee’s normal weekly earnings. See example 13...

Example 13 (calendar available)

You work 40 hours per week at $14.00 per hour. On each pay, your employer pays you 6.5% of your salary as vacation pay. On September 8, you are laid off. For your last week of work from September 5 to 8, you earned $477.12, meaning $448 salary + $29.12 vacation pay. Your normal weekly earnings are $596.40, meaning $560 salary + 36.40vacation pay. On the Record of Employment, your employer indicates vacation pay of $36.40, paid each week.

Your vacation pay is allocated as follows:

August 28 to September 3, 2005: $560 salary + $36.40 vacation pay
September 4 to 10, 2005: $448 salary + $29.12 vacation pay

In this example, the vacation pay is allocated over the period in which it was earned.

Vacation pay paid at the employee’s request is allocated based on the normal weekly earnings, from the week in which the employee asked that it be paid. The date on which the employer pays the vacation pay is not taken into consideration. Other earnings are not taken into account, including salary, when allocating this type of vacation pay. See example 14...

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Example 14 (calendar available)

You are working full time, earning $500 per week. Your collective agreement allows you to request your vacation pay without any requirement to take time off for vacation. On August 10, 2005, you ask that your employer pay your vacation pay. On August 19, 2005, your employer pays you a vacation pay of $1,410. You are still working full time.

Your vacation pay is allocated as follows:

August 7 to 13, 2005, you request your vacation pay: $500 vacation pay and $500 salary
August 14 to 20, 2005, your employer pays your vacation pay: $500 vacation pay and $500 salary
August 21 to 27, 2005: $410 vacation pay and $500 salary

In this example, your vacation pay is paid because of your request and not by reason of a lay-off or separation or specific vacation period. As a result. it is allocated from the week in which you requested it as this was the date that the vacation pay became payable, and the date that the payment was actually made is not important. The salary earned is not considered in the allocation of the vacation pay paid under these circumstances.