It’s that time of year again: the time when employers ponder ways to show their employees appreciation for a job well done and employees hope for a little something extra under the tree. How can you ensure that the holiday perks you have in mind are the ones that will really resonate with your employees?

Giving the Gift of Time

Around the holidays, one of the scarcest commodities anyone has is time. Savvy employers discern that employees highly prize generous holiday leave policies.

Some small, locally owned industries manage to arrange their production schedules in such a way that they can close their doors between Christmas and New Year’s every year. While juggling the production schedule requires forethought and fine planning skills, companies that manage this perk reap the rewards of high employee morale as the holidays near.

For most companies, however, business processes must continue throughout the holiday season. Larger companies are often unable to make a grand gesture such as closing down for a whole holiday week. The good news is that a little creative thinking often yields positive results.

Some companies with a larger workforce find it possible to arrange additional time off by means of a rotating shift schedule. Reducing staffing needs by staggering bare bones work crews to handle necessary functions allows employees to enjoy more days off while business proceeds as usual.

Still other companies decide to give employees the gift of time by closing on strategic days like the day after Thanksgiving or the days directly preceding Christmas, in essence paying for their employees to have time to handle the items on their holiday to-do-lists.

If that is not feasible, some employers opt for reducing their normal workday by an hour or so around the holiday season. And of course, for many businesses it is standard to close early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve to give employees a little extra time with their families.

Time with a Twist

Some forward-thinking employers have discovered a way to keep employee morale high and serve the greater good at the same time. Perks such as paid volunteer time encourage employees to participate in volunteer activities while enjoying a day away from the office.

Since volunteer opportunities increase around the holidays, this perk is particularly attractive to busy employees who still enjoy giving in the spirit of the season. An additional benefit of this arrangement is that employees feel good about working for a company with a social conscience.

Other employers link paid leave to altruistic pursuits by encouraging employees to participate in toy drives, coat drives, or food drives, with the reward being a certain number of hours given in return for a certain number of toys, coats, or food items donated.

It is important for employers to remember when offering this particular holiday benefit that reasonable hour limits need to be established upfront for employees. Additionally, one or more employees will have to be designated to oversee the drive and keep records of the time to be awarded.

Cold, Hard Cash and Gift Cards

A recent poll conducted by Express Employment Professionals, a franchised staffing company, reveals that 27 percent of employees polled would prefer a cash bonus to other popular holiday perks.

While 78 percent of respondents said their companies are offering a year-end gift or bonus, the amount of the gift or bonus varies widely according to industry. Interestingly, 50 percent of those offering monetary gifts are planning to give less than $100 per employee.

The good news is that employees polled express appreciation regardless of the size of the bonus. It appears that the real value of a monetary gift may not be its size, but the expression of thanks that accompanies it. Employers who go the extra mile by accompanying their monetary gifts with a personalized thank-you note for employees see increased morale among their workers.

The same is true in the case of employers who give their workers gift cards. Employees appreciate when employers who take the time to tailor the gift card to the personal preferences of their workers, rather than simply offering a one-size-fits-all card to a big box store.

Thinking Inside the Box

Many employers achieve good results by offering small gifts to their workers. A perennial offering is a turkey or ham for the holidays. Some employers turn to companies that offer cheese and fruit baskets, baked goods, or jellies and jams delivered in beautifully wrapped packages to add an air of festivity to the workplace.

Another standard holiday benefit is the departmental or organization-wide holiday party. While this perk has been around for years, the annual holiday party is still a staple in many companies.