Jon Fulluck
This year, it seemed to have started the second Halloween was over. Ghost costumes and pumpkin baskets were removed from shelves and replaced with tinsel and baubles. Santa’s sleigh appeared overnight in shopping centres. Calendars are suddenly booked out for long lunches.
Christmas is coming.
There are gifts to buy, parties to attend, people to host and places to travel. There are kids and teens to entertain for six weeks over the summer holidays. Extended family come to visit. The pay cheque feels as though it disappears as soon as it’s landed into the bank account. So, even though it’s definitely a season that’s full of fun and festivity, for a lot of people, the holidays are also a season of stress.
Christmas is normally the most expensive time of year for your people and their families. But what if you could use benefits to ease financial stress and give your employees the power to stretch their disposable income by saving on things like Christmas gifts, holiday entertainment and travel?
Recent research from Reward Gateway shows that 58% of recent graduates would prefer to forego a holiday bonus in favour of more frequent rewards and consistent benefits.
Instead of giving a token gift or a one-off bonus that's easily forgettable, a financial employee benefits program provides discounts at hundreds of retailers through the festive season. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Give employees the freedom and flexibility to choose the perfect Christmas gift
Modern employee benefits trends involve providing personalisation and choice, so instead of restricting what items are kept in stock, your employees have the freedom to choose the perfect gift – whether it’s an iPad from JB-HiFi for their tech-loving mum, a touch-screen espresso machine from the Good Guys for their coffee-connoisseur cousin, or a pair of sunnies from Sunglasses Hut for the fashion-obsessed teenage daughter.
Maybe they’re more into gifting experiences? Employees can send their loved one to any concert or comedian on Ticketek’s show list, book some Gold Class tickets, book a spa day at Endota, or play tourist in their local hometown – all without breaking the bank.
Even those unsure of what to buy can take advantage of buying eGift cards at a discounted price and send them via email or print them out and put them in a Christmas card. The recipient gets to shop using the full value of the gift card and is none the wiser that their Secret Santa scored some serious savings.
Get everything you need to throw a great Christmas party
You can keep the costs down even while getting the house in order for Christmas lunch – whether it’s serving platters from Myer, beer for the esky from BWS, the Christmas ham and ingredients for pav from Woolies, or a sofa-bed for your guests from Freedom.
Employees can even save money getting from party to party, with the option to access discounts at the petrol station thanks to their employee benefits app.
Heading out for the holidays?
Those booking flights and accommodation, or heading outdoors and camping out over the Christmas break don’t have to miss out on amplifying their income. With discounts from major airlines, hotel chains and even camping gear stores, your employees’ savings can stay in their bank account while they enjoy a getaway.
Give now, and well into the new year
While 65% of HR managers acknowledge employees have heightened levels of stress in their financial health, only 2 in 5 employers actually offer support in this area.
Leveraging financial benefits allows employers to stand out from their competitors by supporting employees’ financial wellbeing all year long. Give your people something that makes a tangible impact to their everyday spending and long-term savings – it’s a gift that will give your people something to smile about.