Nearly half of employees in Poland (45%) expect to receive a Christmas bonus this year, compared to 36% last year, according to a study by Grupa Pracuj.

The study also found that approximately 82% of respondents believe that during the holidays this year, their salary allows for less shopping than last year. At the same time, 86% of employees said a one-off financial bonus is their most desired Christmas benefit.

Meanwhile, 45% said they want additional leave during the Christmas holidays while 36% said they expected a gift from their employer.

Agata Roszkiewicz, compensation and benefits senior managers at Grupa Pracuj, said in a press release (translated from Polish), “During the holiday season, employee expectations focus on benefits that have a real impact on their comfort and financial situation. Holiday bonuses, additional days off or gifts are not only gestures from employers, but also a signal that their contribution to the functioning of the company is appreciated. In a particularly difficult economic period, such activities can have a key impact on building team engagement and loyalty.”

The study also found that 72% of respondents agree that holiday gatherings are an important form of employee integration. It comes as 66% said they will attend a corporate holiday party. Despite this, around 2 in 10 employees do not plan to attend a corporate celebration, and 16% of respondents are still considering the matter. 

At the same time, 32% of respondents indicated that their organisation does not provide such an event, and 15% of respondents do not know whether their employer will decide to organise a company Christmas Eve party. 

The majority of respondents (76%), believe that a day off on Christmas Eve for employees in Poland would not have a negative impact on the economy. It comes as 85% of respondents believe that Christmas Eve is a day with a special status that should not be treated as a standard working day. Opinions on who should decide on the day off are divided with 51% of respondents claiming that it should be the employer’s decision.