September: The month where patriotism collides with payroll
Ah, September. The month in which the nationalistic spirit of Mexicans rises to epic levels, only to crash head-on into the harsh reality of pay stubs and human resources manuals. Everyone is eager to celebrate Independence Day, drinking and shouting with a passion that would make Hidalgo cry with emotion. Of course, all those who are not caught in the wonderful modern work trap.
Because, who needs to free themselves from a Spanish yoke when the yoke of your boss demanding that you cover the shift on the 16th is much more immediate and terrifying? The holiday this year falls on Monday and Tuesday, a diabolical combination that guarantees that the hangover from the scream of September 15 will be cured not with a restful rest, but with the fluorescent light of the office.
The great calendar deception: When do you really rest?
This is where things get deliciously absurd. It turns out that, in its infinite wisdom, the Federal Labor Law (LFT) has decided that the day of the famous “Cry of Independence”…does not matter. That’s how it is. The 15th, the most emblematic night, the one that fills the squares, is not classified as a day of obligatory rest. It is as if the legislator said: “Yes, yell all you want, but the next day better be at the office on time.”
On the other hand, September 16, the day after the party, when everyone is knackered, is an official holiday. They have the right to rest with pay. It’s a masterstroke, really. We encourage wild celebration on a day that is not a holiday, and then give the day off when the only independence one craves is that of bed. Irony? No, this is art.
The golden equation: Working on holidays to succeed
But let’s talk about what really matters: money. Because patriotism is beautiful, but the triple payment is sublime. If your destiny is to work on glorious Independence Day, the LFT, in a rare moment of generosity, decrees that you deserve a jackpot. You should receive your normal salary plus an additional double. Yes, you read correctly: triple. It’s the only time that working on a day of keeping makes you feel like you’ve won the lottery, or at least, a little raffle.
This right applies regardless of your payment scheme. It doesn’t matter if they pay you by the day, by the week, or with smiles and promises (hopefully not). And as if the generosity were not enough, if the date falls on a Sunday, you also get the 25% Sunday bonus. It’s like the cherry on a salary cake that is already quite sweet. You almost *wish* you had to work that day. Almost.
Of course, this whole work Eden has its snake. Non-compliance by employers is a possibility as real as that of the 17th. For these cases, there is the Federal Labor Defense Attorney’s Office (Profedet), which offers free advice and conciliation. And for the greediest bosses, significant fines await. A poetic justice that reminds us that, sometimes, the system does work.
So now you know. This September, as you fly your flag, remember to also fly your employment contract. Celebrate with the passion of an insurgent hero, but protect your pocketbook with the cunning of an accountant. Because true independence, it seems, is financial.
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