Do You Think You’ll Get a Holiday Bonus This Year?

Today in “a gift basket is better than nothing,” we go to the New York Post:

According to the annual survey of consulting firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, which was released in November, 39 percent of human resources executives said their companies will award a performance-based cash bonus this year, compared with 41 percent last year, with 80 percent of employers planning to give the same amount that they did last year. Another 16 percent are willing to give nonmonetary gifts, such as an extra vacation day or gift basket.

When you actually go to the source—which of course I did—it gets even worse. Andrew Challenger (VP of Challenger, Gray & Christmas) explains that “employers are less willing to spread the wealth with their workers despite the positive business environment,” which he notes is “surprising.”

I am not necessarily surprised.

Did you get a holiday bonus last year? Do you anticipate that you’ll receive one this year? (Are you the kind of person who builds your bonus into your December budget?)

For the record, I’ve gotten some kind of bonus nearly every year I’ve been freelancing; sometimes clients send checks, sometimes they send branded clothing items. I don’t plan for—or expect—these bonuses, so I always find them delightful.

This piece is part of The Billfold’s Holidays and Money series.

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