Two-thirds of HR and hiring managers say their company plans to give monetary holiday bonuses this year, according to a new survey, with the average amount expected to be $858.
The
Of the remaining 33 percent of Scrooge-like companies not planning to hand out monetary bonuses this year, 27 percent indicated they plan to give their employees other perks or offer bonuses at other times of the year (23 percent).
A 92 percent majority of respondents indicated their company plans to offer perks this holiday season, with a holiday party emerging as the most popular choice (cited by 64 percent of the survey respondents). Other ways companies plan to celebrate the holidays this year include collecting toys or money for charitable donations (36 percent), giving employees non-monetary gifts (35 percent), organizing a gift exchange among employees (33 percent), giving employees additional paid time off (30 percent), and giving employees a flexible work schedule (24 percent).
Eighty-one percent of HR and hiring managers indicated employees could take some actions to increase their likelihood of getting a holiday bonus this year. What would that be? Fifty-four percent of respondents indicated this could be accomplished by staying more motivated throughout the year, followed by being more positive or upbeat (43 percent), volunteering to take on more job duties (32 percent), reminding the company of their accomplishments (22 percent) or asking their supervisor for a bonus directly (13 percent).
Contrary to popular belief, 94 percent of HR and hiring managers recommend job seekers keep up their search through the end of the year.
“Candidates may have more luck actively pursuing a new position during the holidays instead of waiting until January, when the rest of the talent pool makes the decision to switch jobs,” said Accounting Principals senior vice president Kathy Gans in a statement. “More than ever before, employers are indicating the need to hire year-round, and gone is the hard-fast rule that there are no job openings during the holiday season.”
Even for people who dress up like Santa and have a little too much to drink at the office holiday party.
