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With budgets tight, rewarding staff with a gift or incentive may require a little more thought than in previous years. But there are plenty of imaginative ideas out there. Mary Cowlett finds.
Tradition dictates December is the time for corporate giving and goodwill to all staff. This yuletide however, is the first since the recession really got under way, and employers face the prospect of deciding exactly what to do. Will it be a credit-crunch Christmas, or should organisations be seen splashing out on lavish gifts and blowouts?
“If staff have suffered cuts, are working longer hours or have seen colleagues made redundant, its more important for employers to show they really do appreciated their efforts”, says Kevin Harrington, director of Sodexo Pass. Justine Clement, managing director of sales promotions and staff incentives specialist Unmissable, goes further: “Rewarding staff with a gift or incentive this Christmas will not only help boost morale but sends a positive message externally, to clients and competitors” she says.
Christmas then, does not have to be cancelled. But with the pressure to find the most cost-effective and appropriate ways to say thank you to staff this festive season, HR magazine has sorted through Santa’s work-shop and found some of the more imaginative gift ideas, to suit a range of budgets.
£40 - £100
What: Wireless Energy Monitor
Provides up-to-the-second information on the amount of electricity used in terms of both power and cost, while storing data for historical comparison. This means recipients can see in real time the environmental and cash benefits of turning off electrical devices at home. Alternatively, they can spread the festive cheer by billing house guests for their share of the electricity used cooking the turkey. Justine Clement of Unmissable says: “We are all now far more environmentally aware and companies increasingly want to be seen as ‘doing their bit’
Price: around £42
Where can I get it: www.unmissable.com
What: Lap of luxury box gift
Contents include a handmade 100% natural wax soothing candle with notes of coconut and sweet vanilla and an organic chocolate drink from the post Daylesford estate in the Cotswolds. There is also a silk eye pillow designed and crafted in the UK, which uses the principles of acupressure, organic seeds and soothing lavender to target headaches and induce a good night’s sleep.
Price: £100
Where can I get it: www.unmissable.com
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