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los declaro unidos en legítimo matrimonio

Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

AYUDA DESPENSA

English translation:

grocery allowance

Added to glossary by Robert Forstag
Dec 5, 2018 22:44
5 yrs ago
27 viewers *
Spanish term

AYUDA DESPENSA

Spanish to English Bus/Financial Business/Commerce (general) Payroll entry - earnings - Mexico
The term appears as a category under "EARNINGS" on a series of bi-monthly (i.e., twice per month) payroll slips issued by a company in Mexico. The employee for whom the slips were issued is the CEO of the company, who during the period in question earned the equivalent of between US$3000 and US$5000 every pay period.

"Food vouchers"? / "Food coupons"? / "Supplement for basic expenses"?

Or maybe, instead, "Stipend for expenses"?

Many thanks.
Proposed translations (English)
4 grocery allowance
3 per diem
3 compensation for outgoing expenses
3 -1 Representation expenses

Discussion

neilmac Dec 6, 2018:
Agree with Robert The first thing I thought of when I saw this query was the growth allowance/company store kind of setup. There's a couple of names for it in Spanish depending on the region, but I don't recall them right now (just passing through…).
Robert Forstag (asker) Dec 6, 2018:
@Robert C. I am fairly sure that you are correct here, and both the translation(s) you have suggested and your explanations seem very well founded. Thank you.

My own confusion arose on account of the US equivalent of "food stamps" being provided as part of an employer's compensation package to a highly paid CEO. But, as you have explained, this is common practice in Mexico, and clearly has nothing to do with income level.
Robert Carter Dec 6, 2018:
@David I really don't understand the point you're making, could you clarify?
Robert Carter Dec 6, 2018:
@Robert F I'm fairly certain this is referring to the "vales/tarjetas de despensa" item. It's really widespread in Mexico, so it's not a stretch by any means, and you seem to be fairly convinced of that anyway yourself. As I mentioned in my entry, it's a scheme designed to lower taxes for employer and employees.

The only question to my mind is whether to translate it as some kind of supplement/perk/allowance for "groceries" or some other way of describing it, e.g., "basic expenses," as you mentioned. I find that definition a little too broad myself, because it could stretch to utilities, travel, etc., which could well be covered by other paycheck items. Conversely, "food" is slightly too narrow.

The "vale/tarjeta de despensa" concept is fairly established and it refers to a voucher or card that can be used in certain establishments, namely supermarkets and convenience stores, to buy groceries (but not alcohol, for example). I know this, as I've used a "tarjeta de despensa" myself.
It can't be used to pay for travel or hotel expenses, nor is it any kind reimbursement for expenses.
David Hollywood Dec 6, 2018:
I don't think a CEO is going to be too worried about the cost but this has no bearing on local regulations... so toughie and we'll see what else comes up...

Proposed translations

10 mins
Selected

grocery allowance

This is my preference, though you could probably translate it a number of ways.
It's one of those perks that allow employers to pay their employees more while keeping the taxable base lower.

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Note added at 50 mins (2018-12-05 23:35:09 GMT)
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Robert F is right in that it they often used to be given in the form of vouchers, known as "vales de despensa," which I believe are still issued by some employers, but nowadays they generally deposit the allowance to a prepaid card, so we can't really use the term "vouchers" any more.

Here's a link to one of the companies that provide this service:

Otorga el beneficio de tarjetas o vales de despensa más completo del mercado. Nuestras soluciones cuentan con la más alta seguridad anti-clonación, plataforma 100% amigable y sencilla para asignar saldo, simplificación administrativa e innovación tecnológica para atender tus requerimientos. Conoce nuestros monederos electrónicos autorizados por el SAT:
https://www.edenred.mx/Despensa/Paginas/Default.aspx

A little more background on what this is:

Los vales de despensa son parte del paquete de beneficios para empleados que ofrecen las empresas, y debes ser claro al informarles cómo funciona esta prestación.

El objetivo es restituir al trabajador parte de lo que se le retiene de sus percepciones por concepto fiscal para la adquisición específica de alimento; pero no sólo se benefician los empleados, también lo hace la organización mediante la deducción de impuestos.
https://www.edenred.mx/Despensa/Paginas/Default.aspx
Peer comment(s):
disagree Paula Graf : He earned the equivalent of between US$3000 and US$5000 every pay period. Nowbody eat so much twice a month. :-) But Edenred also have other services, which may be included in these values, such as school support for children, etc.
1 hr
Thanks, Paula. I believe that's his total earnings, not the amount of this allowance. The Edenred link I posted is specific to "vales/tarjetas de despensa".
neutral David Hollywood : in this context Robert might well be right... the salary is not that high for a CEO and who knows who gets what.........
1 hr
Thanks, David. Sorry, I don't quite understand the comment.
neutral Juan Jacob : No sé si "grocery" (el inglés no es mi fuerte)... hay aceite, latas, incluso papel de baño. ¿"Supplement for basic expenses" no valdría como propone Robert??
1 hr
Thanks for the question, Juan. Although "groceries" used to mean food strictly speaking, most English speakers nowadays understand it as basic household commodities. I'll post a link. "Basic expenses" sounds a little too broad to me.
agree neilmac : That's the first thing that sprang to mind, the "company store" kind of deal...
11 hrs
Thanks, Neil.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you, Robert. Thanks also to everyone else who responded and commented."
3 mins

per diem

Per diem is Latin for per day or for each day. While per diem has several meanings, in relation to Human Resources, it is the daily allowance paid to employees for expenses incurred while traveling for business.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Robert Carter : In Mexico, this is usually called "viáticos".
8 mins
neutral David Hollywood : don't think it's a per diem here
1 hr
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

compensation for outgoing expenses

maybe...

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Note added at 2 hrs (2018-12-06 01:23:00 GMT)
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really hard to say but might be ok
Something went wrong...
-1
1 hr

Representation expenses

Representation expenses are all the expenses necessary to represent the company. Costs of travel, food, hotel, etc.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2018-12-06 00:52:51 GMT)
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http://www.gestiones.com/index.php/en/articles/item/224-go-a...
https://glosbe.com/en/en/representation expenses
And hier are all the services from Edenred:
https://www.edenred.mx/Paginas/Inicio.aspx

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Note added at 2 days 14 hrs (2018-12-08 13:26:29 GMT)
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Hi Robert Carter.

Sorry for the late reply.
The last few days it seems like I can't leave the hospital. So, I haven't given this subject much thought.
I saw a document from a Mexican company, describing the items that can be presented as representation expenses and those that can't, but I think that is not what we want to know.
And I found sites with "vale despensa" and "ajuda despensa", which are 2 different things, but is also not what I mean with representation expences:

https://www.alcofin.com.mx/es/recursos/nominas/prestaciones/...
https://runahr.com/recursos/nomina/ayuda-para-despensa-en-ef...

Robert Forstag wrote that the CEO receives that high of an amount two times a month, so I think it can't be the normal "vale despensa", or at least not only. That's why I suggest "representation expenses", which are all the expenses he has to represent the company.
But as mentioned before, I wasn't looking for more information, nor do I have experience with Mexican accounting.

So, my suggestion is according to my professional experience in this area, in Portugal and Switzerland. In another country it may be different.

As it is an area that interests me, I would love to know what term you chose, Robert Forstag.
Peer comment(s):
disagree Juan Jacob : Despensa, a veces despensa básica es, en México, insumos básicos -principalemente alimentos- para la semana o el mes. Frijoles, aceite, latas varias, jabón, etc. Despensa is the question! As aid above, representation expenses is "viáticos" in Mexico.
19 mins
Yes, but I think it's not this context.
neutral Robert Carter : Do you have any references to support this?//Well, it would be enlightening if you'd post them. I refer specifically to "ayuda despensa," not "representation expenses," of course.//Again, do you have references for "ayuda despensa" that support this?
20 mins
A lot and I also do accounting for a company: https://devisu.ua/en/accounting/6345-representation-expenses... https://devisu.ua/en/advisory-consult/6344-representation-ex...
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