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Should Your Employees Expect Holiday Gifts?

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With a still tight economy, it’s a tough time for small business owners.

When they are having a tough time in the business, it makes for a difficult decision when it comes time to think about holiday bonuses, gifts or anything extra around the holiday season.

Small business owners usually do like to thank their employees with a bonus or gift at the end of the year. The personal, family feel is what makes small businesses a nice place to be. However, when finances are tight, it’s not always possible.

Will It Be a Weak Year for Holiday Sales?

According to a report from Entrepreneur, 34% of small businesses are afraid it will be a weak year for holiday sales. Weak holiday sales mean less income and a tighter budget for small businesses. How does that translate into end of year bonuses, gifts and festivities?

It, unfortunately, does mean that more businesses are cutting back on the extras – less bonuses, less holiday parties, less year end gifts, but it doesn’t mean that employers don’t want to show their staff their appreciation. Some are just doing it in different ways.

Take a look at these ways to compensate for the lack of funds but still show your employees you are grateful for all they do:

• Giving a full or half day off for shopping or other holiday prep (no vacation or personal day needed).

• Donating to charities (this can be a tax write off).

• Getting together and helping out a non-profit together instead of a holiday party. There is very little cost, if any, and the satisfaction is big.

• Scaling down holiday parties but still hosting them, maybe a pot luck instead of a catered affair, or a dessert bar instead of a full meal.

• Give gift cards or gift baskets instead of hefty year-end bonus. It’s not quite the same, but does show appreciation, and can even be more personalized than cash.

If you do need to scale back this year, let your employees know that it is not because they are any less appreciated, but that your budget just does not allow it.

Because small businesses have fewer, closer employees, it’s important to thank them at the end of year, and let them know why there was a change (if it’s a big one) from past years.

Being upfront will pay off, there won’t be hard feelings or employees wondering what is going on. And maybe next year will be better.

Photo credit: employeeappreciationhq.com

About the Author: Heather Legg is a freelance writer who covers topics related to small business and social media.

Do Try This at Home Over the Holidays

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The Real Test of Our Social Skills

Families — fond memories, sentiments that bring us closer together. I’ve sure we’ve all got those. Unfortunately, it seems families aren’t absolved of people who aren’t a joy to the world, of incidents involving human error. Bad times, miscommunication, and conflict come along with the package family deal.

I know more than one person who has thought of starting over — electing a new family, demoting those currently in familial roles — she just doesn’t know how to tell the family she was born into.

It’s not a solution as far as I can see.

I have noticed that we often cut our new friends and new clients more slack than we do our families. Family history gets in the way of our relationships moving forward again.

It sure seems that where we have relationships — yeah even those stuck in a time warp — we might try our best social practices for connecting in positive ways when relationships aren’t happening.

Here’s a four-point plan to reconnect with people that you’ve had a history with.

  • Smile. Be joyful to see them. It’s a chance to change history. Be the change you want to see. The surprise alone often changes their demeanor.
  • Live that smile through and through. Folks we’ve had history with have put us into a content and context box. They use their experience and how we look, what we say, what we do — to recognize signs that might validate that smile. Belief and consistency in the smile through every test gives you and them a place to stand.
  • Never let ’em see you sweat. When we’re at our best we’re authentic. If they ask, tell them life is good and that you’ve decided to look at the world with a positive view. If they bring up bad events, agree that the events were bad and be glad that they’re over. If you need to point out that the happy occasion isn’t the best venue for sorting out history.
  • Make everything about everyone in the room. Be a great guest who is helpful, curious, and interested in the folks who came. Talk about what they want to talk about. It’s an afternoon with the audience who knows you better than any client ever will.

We know how to meet, interact, and build communities with our friends and customers here. What if we do that with our families too? If we let go of old stories, we might find that the curmudgeon in our family is really someone who wants to be listened to. The hardest ones to know can be holding great bits of wisdom. What if we made it a quest to get to it?

Lots of us know that our families don’t see us clearly. It seems only logical that it must be true the other way too. If we start connecting, imagine what we could be learning. We’ve got the skills and the tools.

What if we try this at home over the holidays?

Meet someone you already know this holiday season.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!