Employers Offer Bonuses, Parties and Other Perks

By Dennis McCafferty | Posted 2015-12-15

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Employers Offer Bonuses, Parties and Other Perks

In addition to bonuses, employers are giving a variety of extras to reward staffers, including holiday parties, gift cards, time off and flexible schedules.
Jingle All the Way

67% of the survey respondents said their company will give holiday bonuses this year.
Bonus Breakdown

The average bonus will amount to $858, and organizations with at least 500 employees will give an average of $1,072.
Self-Starter

81% of respondents said employees can proactively increase their likelihood of getting a bonus this season.
Bonus Drivers, Part I

54% of HR managers said workers will better position themselves for a bonus by staying motivated, and 43% said a positive, upbeat attitude will help.
Bonus Drivers, Part II

32% recommend that employees volunteer to take on more job duties to earn a bonus, while 22% suggest that workers remind decision makers about their accomplishments.
Alternative Rewards

27% of respondents at organizations that are not providing holiday bonuses said they prefer to give other perks, while 23% said they award bonuses at other times of the year.
Cheers!

64% of all survey respondents said their company is throwing a holiday party this year.
Stocking Stuffer

35% said their organization is giving employees gift cards.
Community-Minded

36% of respondents said their company is taking collections and donating to charity.
Collegial Contributions

33% said their organization is having an employee gift exchange.
A Gift of Time—and Place

30% said their company is giving additional time off, while 24% said they're letting employees work from home during the holiday period.
"Happy Holidays! You're Hired!"

94% of HR managers surveyed said job seekers should continue (or begin) a search during the holidays.
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Most companies will be giving holiday bonuses this year, according to a recent survey from Accounting Principals. And employees can increase their chance for getting some bonus "cheer" by staying motivated and conveying a positive attitude. (It also doesn't hurt to volunteer for extra duties, and to slip in a gentle reminder to the boss about the positive contributions you've made to the company.) In addition to bonuses, employers are also giving a variety of extras to reward staffers, including holiday parties, gift cards and even time off. "In today's candidate-driven job market, we find that employers are embracing new and creative ways to promote their company culture and attract and retain talent," said Kathy Gans, senior vice president of Accounting Principals. "Companies that offer other perks beyond salary—such as holiday bonuses, extra paid time off or flexible work schedules—are more likely to retain their talent than those solely focused on salaries." The findings also indicate that, contrary to popular belief, nearly all hiring companies recommend job-seekers to continue pursuing new opportunities through the holiday period. That's because employers are recruiting year-round these days due to a lack of available talent in specific areas, and companies can no longer afford to shut it down recruitment until after the New Year. More than 500 U.S. HR and hiring managers took part in the research.

Dennis McCafferty is a freelance writer for Baseline Magazine.