Retroactively

In a manner that affects things that occurred in the past; applying to past events or instances, often relating to laws, policies, or agreements enacted after the conditions they affect have already taken place.

Retroactively meaning with examples

• The new tax law was applied retroactively, meaning that individuals and businesses were responsible for meeting the requirements from the start of the year, even though they were only informed about the changes six months later. This led to confusion and concern among many taxpayers who thought they were compliant with the previous regulations.
• The company issued bonuses retroactively to its employees in recognition of their hard work over the last fiscal year. The management decided that the contributions made during challenging times deserved special recognition, so they calculated and distributed these bonuses based on the previous year’s performance metrics.
• When the government decided to raise the minimum wage, they did so retroactively, which required all employers to adjust their payroll records to reflect the higher wage for the previous months. Many businesses were unprepared for the sudden increase in expenses and had to scramble to meet the new regulations while remaining profitable.
• The recent sweeping reforms included provisions that applied retroactively to previous violations, aiming to hold corporations accountable for past environmental damage. Many companies that thought they had settled such matters were surprised to find themselves facing renewed legal challenges based on the updated regulations.
• The historical society approved the plan to grant retroactive funding to projects that had been initiated two years prior but were not originally budgeted. This funding would allow these projects to be completed and recognized, despite being started under earlier financial constraints.