Just one in five workers expect to receive a Christmas bonus this year, according to a survey by The Global Payroll Association (GPA) – and just under two-thirds of those feel the sum is ‘sufficient’.
Almost half of the 2,320 British office workers in the survey, commissioned by the GPA, had been working at their current company for more than 10 years, but just 21 per cent said they were expecting a Christmas bonus.
Of those who were expecting to receive one, 14 per cent said it was contracted, and 64 per cent said the amount was sufficient.
The most common type of bonus paid was said to be a flat figure payment, with other options including gift cards or a percentage of salary.
The GPA also analysed current ONS earnings data which shows that the average person in Britain earns £38,413 per year. If a Christmas bonus was paid at two per cent of earnings, they said, this would mean that the average person could expect to take home an additional £768.26, an increase of eight per cent in the last year and by 40 per cent in the last decade.
Melanie Pizzey, CEO and Founder of the Global Payroll Association, said the government’s changes to National Insurance could impact companies’ abilities to give Christmas bonuses.
She said: “Christmas is a time for giving and most workplaces will try to show their appreciation to employees in one form or another. For some, this means a nice boost to their monthly pay cheque although a Christmas bonus isn’t as common as you might think, with just one in five workers expecting to receive one this year.
“This Christmas is likely to be tougher than last given the government’s changes to National Insurance, with many companies already struggling as a result of this tax hike.
“Whatever the case may be, spare a thought for the hard-working payroll professionals within your organisation, who will be working tirelessly to ensure that any additional bonuses are paid and often this side of Christmas rather than for the end of month.”
