Employers are closing out 2014 on a generosity roll, according to a survey of holiday plans and practices by Bloomberg/BNA. They're not only giving more time off, but many are planning to party, exchange gifts and donate to charitable causes.

Employers were clearly feeling more generous this year around Thanksgiving, when aBloomberg/BNA survey done before the holiday reported that 74 percent of employers who required folks to work on Turkey Day offered them extra compensation of some type. That compared to the 55 percent in last year's study who said they offered added perks for those who worked on Thanksgiving.

The streak of generosity showed up in the Christmas/New Year's Bloomberg/BNA survey when employers were asked how many paid days off their employees would receive this year around Christmas and New Year's. More than six in 10 reported they have planned for three or more days. That's up from 52 percent offering three or more paid days last year and the prior year.

Recommended For You

Christmas falls on a Thursday this year, making the "gift" of three or more days (Christmas Eve, Christmas and the Friday after, for instance) perhaps easier to give than last year, when the holidays fell on Wednesdays, Bloomberg/BNA said.

But as with Thanksgiving, some will have to work on Christmas and New Year's Day, particularly in the restaurant/hospitality industry, health care and at various retailers. Respondents to this survey indicated that about a third of employers will have someone on the job those days, but more than 85 percent will receive extra compensation for showing up, the survey found.

"Two-thirds (65 percent) of employers will provide time-and-a-half or double time, 12 percent will give compensatory time off on top of premium pay, and another 9 percent will provide additional compensation," the researchers reported.

How jolly are employers feeling about a company party? Pretty darn jolly, this study says.

"More than three out of four companies (77 percent) will provide an opportunity for employees to celebrate the holidays with some sort of sanctioned event," the study reported. "Fifty-nine percent of all organizations will host a company-wide party. Smaller, departmental-level workplace celebrations will occur in 35 percent of companies."

There will be alcoholic libations at more than half of these festive events, the survey said, and 90 percent of those queried said they would take safeguards to avoid alcohol-induced mishaps.

When asked about year-end gifts and bonuses, 43 percent said they planned to give one or the other to workers. The rich and powerful will get a bit more in the way of gifts and bonuses, Bloomberg/BNA ascertained.

"Holiday gifts for all employees are modest but the gap between management and non-management bonuses is significantly larger. The median estimated expenditure per employee for gifts is $45 for managers and $32.50 for non-management. The median cash award for managers is $400, twice the amount for non-managers ($200)," the survey reported.

When it comes to charitable acts, Bloomberg/BNA said: "The spirit of giving is alive and well at the majority of organizations."

The survey identified the following charitable trends:

  • 64 percent will sponsor community or charitable events at year-end;
  • 46 percent will sponsor toy collection for children in need;
  • 42 percent will collect food for the needy;
  • 30 percent will target such collections by "adopting" specific families in need.

Also see other holiday stories:

 

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Dan Cook

Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.