More organizations opting for more time off work with pay
Is your organization handing over a nice fat cheque in the form of a Christmas bonus this year? If so it’s in the minority as only 19 per cent of Canadian employers are providing cash bonuses this holiday season — ranging from about $50 to $700 or more according to Watson Wyatt, a Toronto-based management consulting firm.
But just because the Christmas bonus is headed the way of the Dodo bird, it doesn’t mean corporations are losing their holiday cheer. Almost 70 per cent of companies still organize a dinner and dance for their employees, but in most cases the employees pay their own way.
So what’s replacing cash as the fashionable way to reward staff during the holidays? Time off work. About 31 per cent of companies said they plan to give staff extra time off, with pay, with the amount of time ranging from half a day to seven days.
Children left out of most company festivities
The Watson Wyatt numbers mirror a recent COMPAS poll that showed just 22 per cent of organizations will be handing out a holiday bonus cheque, 38 per cent will be giving extra vacation time and 20 per cent will be doling out gifts to staff.
The vast majority of those surveyed in the COMPAS poll, 72 per cent, will be holding some type of gathering for employees to celebrate the holidays. But in most cases these celebrations are just for the employees their spouses. Only 17 per cent of companies include children in their holiday celebration plans.
Employers spend, on average, about $105 per employee for bonuses, gifts, gatherings and time off, the survey found.
The multicultural factor
The COMPAS survey focused in on the affect the multicultural, multi-religious character of Canada has on corporate holiday festivities. Though 81 per cent of organizations said they hadn’t changed the manner in which the holidays are observed, many said the tone or character of celebrations was being affected. Here are some sample comments:
•“Celebrations are more of the ‘Festive Season’ and less about the meaning of Christmas.”
•“We have holiday celebrations, not Christmas celebrations, although they clearly have a Christmas flavour.”
•“We have a ‘holiday’ party, not a Christmas party, to observe the traditions of various faiths.”
•“Our annual celebrations are no longer directed toward celebrating a ‘Merry Christmas.’ This period of the year is now celebrated with a non-religious ‘Season’s Greetings.’”
•“The multicultural, multi-religious character of Canada makes us more sensitive to the customs and wishes of employees, customers and the public. We prefer to wish people a ‘Happy Holiday Season.’”
The Watson Wyatt information came from a Quick Facts e-mail survey in which 145 companies responded in the week of Nov. 25-29.
The COMPAS poll, Holiday Plans, is from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Weekly CEO and Other Business Leaders Poll by COMPAS in the Financial Post.
But just because the Christmas bonus is headed the way of the Dodo bird, it doesn’t mean corporations are losing their holiday cheer. Almost 70 per cent of companies still organize a dinner and dance for their employees, but in most cases the employees pay their own way.
So what’s replacing cash as the fashionable way to reward staff during the holidays? Time off work. About 31 per cent of companies said they plan to give staff extra time off, with pay, with the amount of time ranging from half a day to seven days.
Children left out of most company festivities
The Watson Wyatt numbers mirror a recent COMPAS poll that showed just 22 per cent of organizations will be handing out a holiday bonus cheque, 38 per cent will be giving extra vacation time and 20 per cent will be doling out gifts to staff.
The vast majority of those surveyed in the COMPAS poll, 72 per cent, will be holding some type of gathering for employees to celebrate the holidays. But in most cases these celebrations are just for the employees their spouses. Only 17 per cent of companies include children in their holiday celebration plans.
Employers spend, on average, about $105 per employee for bonuses, gifts, gatherings and time off, the survey found.
The multicultural factor
The COMPAS survey focused in on the affect the multicultural, multi-religious character of Canada has on corporate holiday festivities. Though 81 per cent of organizations said they hadn’t changed the manner in which the holidays are observed, many said the tone or character of celebrations was being affected. Here are some sample comments:
•“Celebrations are more of the ‘Festive Season’ and less about the meaning of Christmas.”
•“We have holiday celebrations, not Christmas celebrations, although they clearly have a Christmas flavour.”
•“We have a ‘holiday’ party, not a Christmas party, to observe the traditions of various faiths.”
•“Our annual celebrations are no longer directed toward celebrating a ‘Merry Christmas.’ This period of the year is now celebrated with a non-religious ‘Season’s Greetings.’”
•“The multicultural, multi-religious character of Canada makes us more sensitive to the customs and wishes of employees, customers and the public. We prefer to wish people a ‘Happy Holiday Season.’”
The Watson Wyatt information came from a Quick Facts e-mail survey in which 145 companies responded in the week of Nov. 25-29.
The COMPAS poll, Holiday Plans, is from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Weekly CEO and Other Business Leaders Poll by COMPAS in the Financial Post.
