Most Kiwi workers will be treated to Christmas party or gift from their employer this year, but there’s no guarantee it will translate into increased loyalty or even boost morale.
That’s according to new survey by recruitment firm Hudson which looked at what’s behind the tradition of Christmas workplace giving.
The survey asked employers what Christmas-related benefits they give their staff and why, how much they spend, and whether they measure how effective the benefits are. The classic staff Christmas party is by far the most popular festive season benefit, with 60 percent of employers throwing party compared with 30 percent who prefer to give their staff gifts such as Christmas hampers.
The survey shows employers make reasonable investment in their staff at Christmas time – about 30 percent spend between $50 and $100 on each staff member and 35 percent spend between $100 and $500. Two percent said they didn’t provide benefit.
Surprisingly, there was little difference between generosity in small, medium and large organisations although not suprisingly government organisations appeared more prudent.
Organisational purpose playing increasingly important role
Management Editorial Team
October 22, 2026
Organisational purpose is playing an increasingly important role in helping New Zealand organisations navigate economic uncertainty, organisational change and evolving workforce expectations, new research from Hum Consulting, finds.
