Holiday gifts can boost
worker morale, but employers
should think hard before giving

Thinking of giving your employees some holiday perks? Then think hard.
      While such gestures can be an authentic way to say thanks and act as a useful morale booster, companies need to realize that gifts can create a sense of entitlement among workers, something there’s really no way of getting around, said Kate Greene, owner of Human Resource Partners, a Traverse City consulting and training firm.
      It’s important to choose gifts wisely so the intent of holiday gifts doesn’t get undermined. Greene offered the following guidelines for seasonal giving by companies:
      --Keep it fresh — Don’t get locked into giving the same gift every year. Not only will employees come to expect it, they might get bored with it and write it off, making the gesture less meaningful.
      --Tell your story — Make sure to tell employees why you’re doing what you’re doing, whether by communicating your appreciation individually, sharing it in a newsletter or holding a meeting to express gratitude. Remind people that it’s a nice place to work.
      --Keep it equitable — Give everybody the same thing. People will talk about what they receive and inequitable gifts can prompt feelings of being slighted, stealing away the spirit of the holidays.
      --Respect holiday traditions — Acknowledge that not everyone is practices the same — or any — religion, so don’t give everyone menorahs or Christmas tree ornaments.
      --Don’t overcommit — If you give something that’s too nice or too generous and you can’t keep it up year after year, employees will feel they’ve had something taken away. “They’ll feel you don’t love them anymore,” Greene said.
      Employees too should follow some basic rules when accepting holiday gifts from employers. First, and most importantly, be sure to thank the boss, just as you’d thank anyone who gave you a gift. This basic etiquette often is overlooked.
      Holiday gifts are“definitely not something that everybody does,” Greene said.“People that work for those companies that give gifts should realize that that’s a really nice benefit.”
      Finally, don’t judge what the employer provides.
      “Don’t say, ‘Oh ... pizza again?’” Greene said. “Employers really struggle with what they should do. It’s the thought that counts.”


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