While some redundancies and recruitment freezes are inevitable in business, it’s vital to manage these as effectively as possible. If staff are left feeling demoralised they may end up struggling to manage the all-important customer relationships that every business relies on.

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Despite the repercussions of the recession continuing to resonate across the UK, there is a slight level of optimism about the future for many organisations compared with recent Christmases. Businesses will be eager to demonstrate thanks and appreciation to the staff that have worked with them through this difficult time. With no bonuses or pay-rises, cutbacks on staff outings and celebrations and probably a toned down Christmas party, it is more important than ever to say thank you to staff for their loyalty and hard work.

Since the recession hit, many employees have had to work even harder to help their employer. In many cases, where companies have had to downsize, there will be loyal employees that have had their workloads doubled following redundancies or when staff have left and not been replaced. It is these employees that companies will want to retain and offering corporate gifts at Christmas is an essential way of getting an important message of thanks across.

What type of incentives are available?
In years past, employees may have been awarded a bottle of wine or a Christmas turkey, but the present day employers realise that these gifts are not necessarily relevant and therefore lack the desired motivational appeal.  

Corporate gift solutions need to be cost-effective, flexible enough to cater for a wide variety of tastes, and yet still able to make a lasting impact long after the last of the mince pies has been polished off.

Prepaid cards offered as a reward deliver the freedom to load the appropriate value that fits both the budget and the level of reward that is deserved. With the opportunity to brand to fit a particular incentive programme, this creates a specialist Christmas programme to provide a great solution for the festive period.

What about temps and agency workers?
Contract workers should be included in Christmas incentive schemes as a method of bringing them one step closer to the organisation and its culture. If they are rewarded appropriately for the work that they have done on a temporary basis, they will feel more committed and therefore produce better results.

Using vouchers as a reward option is popular among temporary employees as they are more memorable than cash and can be used by the recipient to either help make ends meet or to spend on treats (which is essential if income is potentially for a short period only).  From the employer’s point of view, vouchers are a cost-effective way of maintaining motivation as they are quick and easy to administer and can therefore be used to provide an instant reward for a job well done, and can be given in varying amounts to suit any budget. 

By managing the motivation of contract workers effectively during periods such as Christmas, employers will reap the benefits of having a highly motivated team.

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