Some 51 percent of employers nationwide plan to offer Christmas bonuses, a 6-percent increase compared to last year, a recent study by the Randstad Research Institute has revealed.
Additionally, 48 percent of companies intend to organize corporate Christmas Eve celebrations, marking a 5-percent rise, according to the study, which was conducted in collaboration with GfK.
This trend indicates a growing recognition among businesses of the financial challenges faced by employees, particularly during the holiday season, the Randstad Research Institute said.
The institute's Mateusz Żydek, co-author of the study, said that, while firms may not always be able to offer substantial wage increases to match the ongoing wage pressure, they are compensating with seasonal bonuses or non-financial forms of appreciation.
Mateusz Żydek. Photo: Ewa Plisiecka/Polish Radio
The study highlights that 30 percent of companies plan to allocate over PLN 500 (USD 125) per employee for Christmas bonuses, up from 21 percent last year and just 13 percent in 2018.
Another 29 percent of businesses aim to spend between PLN 300 and 500 per person. Notably, only 2 percent plan to spend less than PLN 50 on each employee.
Gift vouchers, another popular form of holiday benefit, are expected to be provided by 29 percent of companies, a decrease over the past two years.
However, 90 percent of firms offering gift vouchers intend to distribute them to all employees. Among those providing cash bonuses, 83 percent plan to do so.
The allocation of bonuses and gift vouchers is mostly dependent on the employee's position or department.
The study is based on interviews conducted with 1,000 employers between October 9 and November 23.
The growing trend in holiday bonuses reflects a broader effort by Polish companies to support their employees during economically challenging times, experts say.
While consumer confidence indicators for 2024 appear to be growing, Poland is only just coming out of a prolonged period of high inflation.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP