Christmas Present? anything but cash

[myboysarethebest]

Hello,

I really don't want to give 'cash' bonus to staff at Christmas. Can you help suggest something that is a little original/unique that would be appreciated.

I realy don't want to give out a cash bonus.

Also, what value should I consider? I have a few part-time staff and one full timer.
We are a small business with not a huge amount of money to spend.

What have you received that you thought was pretty good!

Thanks in advance

I so posted this is the wrong category - SORRY :(

Maybe the title should be

AIBU - to hate cash bonuses!

A food hamper, high quality toiletteries, a bottle of their favourite tipple, tho most ppl really would prefer cash when they need it most at xmas.

I would prefer cash bonus really, it's most helpful around christmas.

I would want the cash too, not some other 'thoughtful' crap

A definate vote for the cash, rather than something I might not really want or use, yes definately cash especially at Christmas!

id rather have a cash bonus than a gift off the boss, even if its £5.
The only decent present a boss has got me was a girls night in hamper, with chocs, mini bottle of wine, dvd and best of all a pocket size vibrator. i didn't know what say when he asked if i had liked my present!

Hard to buy something that evryone would like. I love Hotel Chocolate stuff but others would hate it. Could you take them out fo a meal? Or I love the idea of a small but thoughtful hamper for each person. You could put things in that you know they like.

But cash works for me!!

How about M&S vouchers, bottles of wine/champers tins of biscuits/chocolates, gift sets of smellies from Boots?

I think something that could help with people coming round for Christmas/to take to someone's for Christmas will probably be the best way to go.

How much were you thinking of spending?

oh forgot to say, a company where i worked used to order a fresh turkey for everyone (not sure what they did for veggies) which i thought was great.

Alcohol is usually appreciated at Christmas?

Can you tell us why you don't want to give cash? Is it because you can only give a small amount?

Cash would be preferred or maybe a hamper.

I hate smellies as I only use SLS free, organic stuff as anything else makes my skin very dry, and I always shower, never bath so bubble bath etc is wasted on me, so my hard earned bonus would go straight in the box for the next church/school fair.

Don't drink so wouldn't be too thrilled with wine although DH would happily take it off my hands and drink my hard earned bonus.

Anything edible would be appreciated - though I'd have to hide it or DH and the DCs would eat my hard earned bonus.

Honestly, I'd rather have the cash for a guilt free splurge on crap of my own choice!

Sorry

I think cash is the traditional and expected Christmas bonus.

Cash.

Is it because you can't afford to spend very much cash and you'd feel bad handing over twenty quid or so?

Take them out for a meal instead?

I would also prefer a cash bonus but I've worked at places that give gifts instead, one year we had a gorgeous Harrods Hamper, another was 6 bottle of champagne, M&S Vouchers/an extra days holiday.

I re read and saw you don't have a lot of money to give out, it makes sense not to give a piddly amount.
If they eat meat, maybe a turkey each? Not sure, dh only gets money.

Cash, even if only a small amount extra.
NO to hampers.

thanks for the posts.

I'm not really sure about cash - I would hate to look stingy if it's not much? and I have some staff who have been with us all year and than another who will have clocked up two months. Some work 2 hours a week others a lot more - so it's all kinda hard to work out who gets how much as I don't think it's fair they get the same.

DH and i have never been in positions where bonuses have been given. Usually a Christmas meal is all we get and that's having to pay for it as well!!

Are bonus's an expectation???

No, I don't think bonuses are expected. Haven't worked for a number of years but we didn't get a bonus - we were treated to a christmas party.

worldgonemad - did your boss really give you a vibrator? Did he 'know' you well? I would have died of embarrassment - but I probably wouldn't have known what it was - can see myself asking if this was a new techno gadget for the computer .

I used to do HR/payroll for a small firm and the gave a small cash bonus at Christmas. TBH it was quite easy to work out, this is how we did it:

Work out how much is the max you would want to give to any one person, ie a full time bod who has been with you all year.

Take that amount and have that as your 'monthly' pro rated amount.

For each person add up how many months the are entitled to, for part timers reduce by suitable amount.

Eg. Happy to give £200 as maximum amount, there fore £16.67 per month.

So someone who is full time for 5 months would get £83.33, someone on part time (50% of normal fulltime hours) for 5 months would get £41.67.

When my boss gave out the bonus' he would just say something like 'as some of you have been here longer/do more hours I'm sure you can understand the bonus' are all different as that seemed the fairest way'.

ake that amount divide my twelve and then have that as your 'monthly' pro rated amount.

divide by twelve

aarrrggghhh