Christmas bonuses are a way for employers to show appreciation to their employees for their work effort throughout the entire year. Some businesses give out cash bonuses while some businesses give their employees a non-cash gift either in lieu of a cash bonus or in addition to a cash bonus.
Whatever form Christmas bonuses take, two questions linger, is your company in a position to pay out Christmas bonuses in 2021? Has present economic conditions disrupted the Christmas bonuses plan for your employees?
If yes, your company may benefit from some helpful guides to paying employee bonuses this year.
If your company pays Christmas bonuses every year, your employees may be looking forward to another bonus payout this festive season. However, considering the harsh economic realities; ever-increasing food prices, fuel and transport fares, etc, what kind of Christmas bonus will be available to employees?
The size of a business and how sales have grown or declined during the past year will be the determinant factors on how Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME’s) calculate this year’s Christmas bonuses.
Post pandemic era has witnessed problematic statistics to businesses. Nearly 131,000 businesses faced challenges accessing finance in 2020. The year 2021 has witnessed huge uncertainty in the business environment; Parliament is currently arguing on the “controversial” 2022 budget, two weeks after it was read. The price of food and other necessities have soared as a result of incessant increases in fuel prices. Not to talk of the recently discovered Omicron, the new variant of Covid-19, which has further heightened uncertainty in business.
The local economy may be heading towards pre-lockdown levels, it will be a while for full economic revitalization to take hold.
Some small and medium scale enterprises are still recovering from the stifled growth in sales and revenue. For some businesses, there may be limited to no bonuses for employees this year. So, what can these businesses do to still let their employees know they are well appreciated for their effort?
No Christmas Bonus Payouts?
Be honest and come clean
If your company has without fail given Christmas bonuses in the past years to employees but will be unable to do so this year, let your employees know as early as possible. Most employees count on that bonus cheque and factor it into their budget. Do not try to squeeze your company funds dry, knowing you cannot afford to give out Christmas bonuses this year. Your employees will surely understand given how the COVID-19 pandemic has stifled the economic environment.
Time off
If your company cannot afford to give cash or gift bonuses this year, you might consider giving your employee some paid time-off. Time-off to relax, undertake some errands, and spend with family and friends is something that almost if not everyone could use more of. Employees will appreciate that extra day off to just kick back after all their hard work during the working year.
Carefully and fairly choose the bonus amount and gifts
If you can afford to give a bonus this year then by all means do so but carefully and fairly. Give bonuses based on your business capacity. Do not give beyond your business limit. Moreover, when given out bonuses, make sure they are fair, unbiased, and equitable. This is to ensure no worker feels unappreciated.
Once you take care of the people that take care of your business throughout the year, you will benefit immensely as people are motivated to do much more when they are appreciated.
