Giving the wrong type of gift could see staff heading for the door when the January blues hit
With research showing that two in five people will look for a new job in January, businesses could be adding to the post-Christmas blues and pushing employees out of the door just by giving them the wrong kind of festive bonus, according to The Grass Roots Group. When the holiday euphoria and socialising is over, the cash bonus or novelty gift will also be long forgotten, with many staff having spent the money on household bills or the Christmas food shop, or simply binned the unwanted present from their boss.
Businesses are missing a trick if they fail to get it right and risk staff feeling deflated and demotivated when work comes round again in January - with research suggesting that the right tangible rewards can increase employee performance by an average of 22 per cent. Gift vouchers and cards are becoming more commonplace in rewarding employees at Christmas and throughout the year, with the market growing at between five and 15 per cent, per year for over a decade[4].
To help businesses strike the right balance and give a Christmas gift that will meet a range of tastes and ages (as well as give employees something to get excited about), The Grass Roots Group suggests Bonusbonds - a multi-retailer gift voucher or pre-loaded gift card, which can be used in some of the UK’s favourite national chains and local independents.
As well as shops, Bonusbonds can be used in restaurants, to book a holiday or night away and at most spas throughout the UK – suiting all tastes and budgets. Far from being seen as an impersonal gift, they have been designed to appeal to everyone in the company, with each recipient able to spend them however they wish, making them a more memorable and appreciated option.
“Employees want something usable, not seasonal at Christmas – long gone are the days of giving everyone in the office a turkey to celebrate the festive season! Gift cards and vouchers make it easy for the employer to give all staff the gift of choice and not unintentionally alienate people by giving an inappropriate gift,” comments Rebecca Calladine, Commercial Director for Promotions & Incentives at The Grass Roots Group.
“As well as boosting morale and company loyalty, giving the right type of Christmas bonus or present can have a huge impact upon staff productivity, with research from the Aberdeen Group[5] finding that top performers are 31 per cent more likely to consider non-cash incentives a sales performance management ‘must-have’. Boosting employee motivation is imperative, more so than ever during the festive season. Finding the right incentive can play a significant part in reducing absenteeism and keeping staff engaged through the ‘January blues’ – a time when many may find themselves looking for other roles,” she adds.
Bonusbonds are perfect for Christmas and are so flexible that they can be used as part of a thank you or loyalty programme or for wider reward and recognition schemes. For more information about how they could benefit your business, please visit www.bonusbond.com.
