GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Unusual or Infrequent Items, or Both [Abstract]

GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE

GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE

Certain governments passed legislation to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic through loans, wage subsidies, tax relief or other financial aid. During the year ended December 31, 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company participated in several of these programs and recognized, in the aggregate, government grants and other assistance benefits of $131 million, principally recorded as a reduction of "Personnel" expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the respective periods. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had a receivable of $28 million for payments expected to be received for the programs where it had met the qualifying requirements.

In June 2021, the Company announced its intention to voluntarily return assistance received through various government aid programs and, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded expenses of $137 million in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations, principally in "Personnel" expense, to reflect the return of such assistance. The Company repaid $107 million of assistance during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The previously recorded receivable for payments expected to be received was also written off in June 2021.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized government grants and other assistance benefits of $22 million and $122 million, respectively.