KEY POINTS:
Most Kiwi workers will be treated to a Christmas party or gift from their employer this year. There's no guarantee it will translate into increased loyalty or even boost morale.
That's according to a new survey by recruitment firm Hudson looking at what's behind the tradition of Christmas workplace giving.
The survey, Hudson Report: Christmas Benefits, asked employers what Christmas-related benefits they give their staff and why, how much they spend, and whether they measure how effective the benefits are.
The staff Christmas party is by far the most popular benefit, with 60 per cent of employers throwing a party compared with 30 per cent who prefer to give their staff gifts. Hudson executive general manager, Marc Burrage, said given the expenditure in this area not to mention employees' expectations, he wondered if Christmas-time activities had become a way of increasing morale or retention.
"We wanted to look at what drives companies to make what sometimes is an investment in the hundreds of thousands of dollars."
The survey shows employers make a reasonable investment in their staff at Christmas time. About 30 per cent spend between $50 and $100 on each staff member and 35 per cent spend between $100 and $500.
