What Staff Love -and Hate- at Christmas

Nov. 21, 2012 - PRLog -- 30% of employees say that extra days off at Christmas tops their festive ‘wish list’ for bosses. This is followed by 28% who say they’d most value an early finish on Xmas Eve, and then 27% who say a proper thank you from management is most critical.

On the flip-side, when asked to identify what they value the least, 33% say a Christmas present from the company. Incredibly 24% say they least value a bonus and 17% say the Christmas Party… however when analysed by gender, the numbers of men actively disliking the Christmas Party rises to 23%!

These are just some of the findings of a recent festive season survey carried out by leading HR consultancy Jaluch.  

Helen Jamieson, director at Jaluch, comments that staff priorities at Christmas are not always what company bosses might expect and an opportunity here is for business leaders and HR departments to use this information to better focus their energies and money in the festive period. Interestingly, of the three most important things identified, two can be given to staff at virtually no cost whatsoever... letting staff leave early on Xmas Eve is such an easy win for bosses and making a personal thank you to each member of staff costs nothing more than management time.

Jamieson says that informing managers of the value placed on a personal thank you should encourage more of them to take the time to do it.

When asked about serious Christmas gripes, quite a number identified that not letting staff know what time they are free to go, until part way through the day on Xmas Eve, comes high on their list. So Jaluch recommends that if you are going to let staff go early on Christmas Eve, make a decision about what time that will be and let them know in advance, assuming of course you want your gesture to be appreciated.

The Jaluch survey identified other Christmas gripes including:

●   Making staff use their annual leave entitlement to cover Christmas period shutdown

●   Companies being too Scrooge-like to put up Christmas decorations

●   Forcing Christmas 'joviality' on all or making staff feel like party poopers if they won't decorate their work station

●   Staff being treated differently in different departments

●   Using an expensive hotel for staff functions when money is so tight or colleagues have been laid off

●   Long corporate speeches at the Christmas party

●   Wasting money such as where everyone is expected to send everyone a card, or equally sending cards to clients that won’t be noticed or appreciated

●   Forcing those who don't like or celebrate Christmas to stop working on Christmas day!

●   Too much time spent messing around and enforced ‘silliness’ which impacts on productivity!

And finally, an astonishing 10% of staff claim their organisation's Christmas festivities have absolutely no positive impact on staff morale. What else can we say to that, but… Bah Humbug!

-Notes for Editors-

Jaluch provides HR services and training and development solutions to organisations across all business sectors, throughout the UK and internationally. Jaluch offer a wide range of commercial HR solutions for every employer, from simple contract and handbook reviews, to larger scale HR management projects or advice on complex employment law issues. Similarly, our extensive range of training and development initiatives are always tailored to suit the culture and needs of your business. We pride ourselves on our friendly, professional but down to earth approach and our commitment to always speaking in plain English.

Jaluch has offices in London, Reading and Ringwood.