Holiday Gift Giving Do’s and Don’ts
A recent survey found that 41 percent of employees say that the number one holiday gift they want from their boss this year is a holiday bonus. However, 46 percent say that holiday bonuses are not given at their company, and 13 percent go on to describe their boss as “stingy” this time of year.
“It’s a tricky line to walk because you don’t want to seem like Scrooge; but at the same time, giving out bonuses to each employee is not necessarily feasible for many companies,” says Rob Wilson, human resources expert and President of Employco USA, an employment solutions firm.
Wilson also says that many employees can struggle with holiday giving as it relates to their own colleagues or managers.
“Not only do many workers feel chagrined if they don’t receive a bonus from the boss, but they also have the added pressure of figuring out what to give their boss or managers, and how much to spend on coworkers,” says the employment trends expert.
To help circumvent these holiday headaches and keep employees focused, Wilson suggests the following Do’s and Don’ts as it relates to holiday giving:
Set a rule about in-office gifts.
When emailing about your office holiday party, Wilson advises employers to include a line asking for employees not to give presents to their managers. “A simple line such as ‘While we appreciate your generosity, please no gifts for us.’ This will help to remove any fears of ‘brown-nosing’ or people getting favorable treatment just because they are able to splurge on a big gift for the boss while others cannot afford to do so.”
Give back to the community.
“Rather than deal with the stress of Secret Santa or the distraction of a white elephant game, ask for employees to bring in one unwrapped toy to give to kids in need. Then, you can drop the toys off to a local YMCA, Toys for Tots, or similar charity. Not only will this remove stress about holiday giving in the office, but it will increase holiday spirit and joy in the office.”
Give the best gift of all: Time off.
“Research has found that employees say ‘time away from the office’ as their favorite thing that employers give them this time of year. If you don’t have the funds for bonuses or a big holiday party, simply giving the team an extra day off or even half-a-day can go a long way in inspiring goodwill. Even turning the week of Christmas into a ‘casual dress’ week can help employees to feel relaxed and appreciated by the boss.”
In addition to these bits of advice, be sure to take time to walk around and say, “Thank you for working so hard for our company,” to your staff. For remote employees, write a personal e-mail to each employee or be unique and write out notes. Yes, hand-written and mailed!
