A company pays an employee $3,000 for a five-day work week, Monday-Friday. The adjusting entry on December 31, which is a Wednesday, is a debit to Wages Expense, $1,800, and a credit to Wages Payable, $1,800.

The employee earns $600 per day ($3,000/5 days). By Wednesday, they have worked three days, totaling $1,800 ($600 x 3 days), which is correctly recorded as both a debit to Wages Expense and a credit to Wages Payable, reflecting the amount earned but not yet paid.