Christmas presents from the boss: more disappointment than appreciation?

Every year the employer disappoints

The verdict is initially not very festive: almost half of employees (45%) consider their employers to be poor gift givers, while 36% say that the gifts never meet their expectations. Particularly sobering: last year, half of employees came away empty-handed - and only 24% expect to receive anything at all from their employer this year.

This shows how important such benefits are for the workforce. For example, 45% of respondents stated that they would not resign before Christmas in order to secure a gift or bonus. In addition, 74% emphasize that a gift makes them feel valued, while 60% state that a reward gives them motivation and energy for the coming year.

For employers, this means that Christmas is a time to be thoughtful. After all, gifts are crucial for both employee retention and their well-being.

Countering economic worries with voucher cards

It is important for employers to consider the general attitude towards gifts when developing gift strategies for their employees.

This is because the tense economic situation continues to play a significant role for consumers: many employees use gift cards to buy food (20%) or clothing (25%). A full 13% would use a gift card for household expenses and 21% for fuel. Consumers are most concerned about the cost of utilities (53 percent), inflation (65 percent), food prices (57 percent) and fuel prices (26 percent).

With budgeting and timing being so important, employers can use their 2024 gifting strategies to support their employees during a financially challenging time of year. The value of the gift card doesn't even have to be very high: 32% of respondents said they didn't know what amount they would like. 18 percent would like a value between 51 and 100 euros and 22 percent between 101 and 250 euros. Some employees (12%) were also satisfied with less than 50 euros.

The perfect gift?

Gift cards remain one of the most popular options in companies: A full 84 percent of respondents would like to receive a gift card from their employer this year if they had the choice. The timing of the presentation also plays a role: around half of employees prefer to receive the gift at the beginning of December. Only 19 percent would prefer to receive their gift at the end of the month.

"It is certainly sobering to hear how many employees are disappointed by their employers' gift-giving behavior," says Patrick Schlieper, Director Business Development Dach at BHN. "After all, Christmas gifts are a festive way to express appreciation to employees for all their efforts throughout the year. Now that the gift-giving season is upon us, companies should act regardless of their budget and take advantage of the benefits of flexible gifting. It's high time to say goodbye to the dusty box of chocolates and instead consider a gift card that allows recipients to treat themselves to what they really want - or need."

Source: www.blackhawknetwork.de