Accounting Principals Survey Finds Majority of Companies to Spread Holiday Cheer with Year-End Bonuses

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Two-thirds of HR and hiring managers (67 percent) reported their company plans to give monetary holiday bonuses this year, according to a new survey conducted by Accounting Principals, a leader in the staffing and recruitment of accounting and finance professionals. Employees across the country should be excited to learn that the average holiday bonus this year, as indicated by respondents, is expected to be $858.

The Accounting Principals Holiday Bonus and Hiring Survey polled more than 500 U.S. HR and hiring managers, and explored company holiday celebration and hiring trends. The survey results provide valuable insights for today's employees and job seekers as we enter the holiday season.

Key insights from the survey include:

• Money isn't everything. Of those not planning to give monetary bonuses this year (33 percent), 27 percent indicated they plan to give their employees other perks, or offer bonuses at other times of the year (23 percent).
• Gear up for the holiday party. The majority (92 percent) of respondents indicated that their company plans to offer perks this holiday season, with a holiday party emerging as the most popular choice (64 percent). Other ways companies plan to celebrate the holidays this year include collecting toys or money for charitable donations (36 percent), giving employees non-monetary gifts (35 percent), organizing a gift exchange among employees (33 percent), giving employees additional paid time off (30 percent), and giving employees a flexible work schedule (24 percent).
• Work for your bonus. 81 percent of HR and hiring managers noted that employees could take action to increase their likelihood of getting a holiday bonus this year. How? 54 percent of respondents indicated this could be done by staying more motivated throughout the year, followed by being more positive or upbeat (43 percent), volunteering to take on more job duties (32 percent), reminding the company of their accomplishments (22 percent) or asking their supervisor for a bonus directly (13 percent). 

"With the economy performing at a more steady level, holiday bonuses are once again a great way for employers to recognize the efforts of their hardworking staff and spread good cheer," said Kathy Gans, senior vice president of Accounting Principals. "In today's candidate-driven job market, we find that employers are embracing new and creative ways to promote their company culture and attract and retain talent. Companies that offer other perks beyond salary, such as holiday bonuses, extra paid time off, or flexible work schedules, are more likely to retain their talent than those solely focused on salaries."

The survey also revealed that contrary to popular belief, 94 percent of HR and hiring managers recommend that job seekers keep up their search through the end of the year.

"Candidates may have more luck actively pursuing a new position during the holidays instead of waiting until January, when the rest of the talent pool makes the decision to switch jobs," continued Gans. "More than ever before, employers are indicating the need to hire year-round, and gone is the hard-fast rule that there are no job openings during the holiday season."   

Methodology
The Accounting Principals Holiday Bonus and Hiring Survey was conducted between November 3-10, 2015, among 501 U.S. HR or hiring managers, between November 3^rd and November 10th, 2015, using an email invitation and an online survey. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About Accounting Principals
Accounting Principals is a leader in the recruitment and placement of accounting and finance professionals, offering a complete range of workforce solutions in accounting, finance, mortgage and banking. Our nationwide branch network consists of experienced professionals that average five years of real-world accounting experience plus more than five years of finance and accounting recruitment experience. In addition to providing clients with a combination of temporary staffing, temp-to-hire and direct placement services, Accounting Principals also helps clients overcome their challenges through an in-depth understanding of their business needs. For more information, please visit www.accountingprincipals.com.

SOURCE Accounting Principals

Related Links

http://www.accountingprincipals.com