UK employers paying out a Christmas bonus may be coming a thing of the past

-

A third of employees have never been given a Christmas bonus, as well as admitting they are unproductive in the run up to Xmas.

Research conducted by Hawk Incentives, a rewards and benefits company found that 33 per cent of UK workers have never received a Christmas bonus from their employer.

Perkbox, an employee experience platform, has found that 33 per cent of employees described themselves as unproductive in the build up to Christmas. However, out of those who do have an office party, 27 per cent said a common regret is drinking too much at the party and regretting acts afterwards.

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

Madlena Pozlevic, employee experience lead at Perkbox said:

I think we all would agree that it’s incredibly difficult to keep focus and momentum at work in the month of December. Between parties, work, travelling, planning and present shopping it’s near impossible to keep on top of it all.

Hawk Incentives found that nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of workers saying they are not expecting a financial boost this year, with 70 per cent believing the Christmas bonus will be a thing of the past.

Under half (40 per cent) believe this is due to constant cutbacks in their industry, and 36 per cent say that companies only care about profits.

Three years ago, the average workers would receive in the form of a Christmas bonus was £792, now it is £363.

Chris Ford, senior director, UK sales at Hawk Incentives, said:

This research sadly reveals that so many UK employees believe that Christmas bonuses are a thing of the past.  It also shows how morale boosting a bonus of whatever size can be for an employee.   Many businesses are unaware that you can give up to £50 to each of your employees, tax free, each year as a trivial benefit.

High employment engagement is a constant theme we see in the highest performing businesses across the UK. A small token of appreciation at Christmas time, or any time, can go a very, very long way.

The research was conducted by Ginger Comms, they asked 1,500 UK employees their opinion.

Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.

Latest news

Personalising the Benefits Experience: Why Employees Need More Than Just Information

This article explores how organisations can move beyond passive, one-size-fits-all communication to deliver relevant, timely, and simplified benefits experiences that reflect employee needs and life stages.

Grant Wyatt: When the love dies – when staying is riskier than quitting

When people fall out of love with their employer, or feel their employer has fallen out of love with them, what follows is rarely a clean exit.

£30bn pension savings window opens for employers ahead of 2029 reforms

UK employers could unlock billions in National Insurance savings by expanding pension salary sacrifice schemes before new limits take effect in 2029.

Expat jobs ‘fail early as costs hit $79,000 per worker’

International assignments are ending early due to family strain, isolation and poor preparation, as rising costs increase pressure on employers.
- Advertisement -

The Great Employer Divide: What the evidence shows about employers that back parents and carers — and those that don’t

Understand the growing divide between organisations that effectively support working parents and carers — and those that don’t. This session shows how to turn employee experience data into a clear business case, linking care-related pressures to performance, retention and workforce stability.

Scott Mills exit puts spotlight on risk of ‘news vacuum’ in high-profile dismissals

Sudden departure of a long-serving BBC presenter raises questions about how employers manage high-profile dismissals and limit speculation.

Must read

Helen Ives: Why charity is HR’s secret weapon

The best people are passionate people. People who are...

Julie Starr: How Dumbledore and Mary Poppins can help you mentor

There are notable benefits for successful mentoring schemes but many organisations struggle to make them work. Julie Starr explores how fictional teachers can inspire inspiration to prospective mentors.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you