39.5% of Brits would prefer gift vouchers from their employers this Christmas.

A survey commissioned by Argos for Business, which polled over 7000 people about Christmas rewards, revealed that gift vouchers are the most desired form of employee incentive.

Given the choice, over a third of respondents (39.5%) would prefer to receive retail vouchers from their employer at Christmas rather than an extra day’s holiday, which was favoured by 31.7% of those questioned.

Interestingly, retail vouchers were also the number one gift of choice of employers, with 41% of decision makers saying that they prefer to give these in place of other Christmas rewards.

Christmas is an excellent time for employers to show appreciation for their workforce, particularly for those businesses who do not have a reward system in place throughout the year.

On average, Argos for Business witnesses an increase of 50% in sales throughout November and December, with businesses from across the UK looking to motivate staff to maximise sales or thank employees for a job well done.

However, with so many forms of reward and recognition available, choosing the best approach to suit the needs of the individual employee, as well as the aims of the business can be a difficult task.

Some employers prefer to offer a tangible gift, but it can be difficult to pick a gift to suit the broad range of different people and individual lifestyles, typically found in many businesses. What may suit a young and single employee may not suit one with a family at home.

Some employers settle for the ‘safe’ option of a Christmas hamper or a bottle of wine, however the employer must consider whether or not this is something that will be of real value to their staff. A hamper only gained 15.3% of votes in the Argos for Business’ Christmas survey, so employers should question if such a gift will work as an effective form of motivation, and whether this will help to enhance staff engagement.

The Christmas bonus has traditionally been a popular reward, however when the funds are placed directly into an employee’s bank account, these can often get absorbed into everyday expenditure, such as household bills or other necessities, meaning that the impact of this money as an incentive can be lost; especially where the funds could have been spent on a more desirable item.

As a leading provider of gift cards, incentives and motivation solutions, Argos for Business was not surprised by the survey findings and believes the popularity of gift vouchers can be afforded to the choice, convenience and flexibility that they offer for both the employee and the employer.

Commenting on the findings, Danny Clenaghan, Managing Director of Argos for Business, said: “These results demonstrate the importance of choice and flexibility when it comes to making staff feel truly rewarded at Christmas.

“While the economic climate of the past few years has seen some employers cutting back on costs, it is important to bear in mind that an engaged and driven workforce is more efficient, not only creating a more positive working environment for the individual, but also helping to produce better results for the company as a whole.

“For a member of staff, a reward of gift cards or vouchers can be a great motivational tool, whether they’re looking to treat a loved one, pick up some toys for the little ones during the festive season, or just choose a gift for themselves, the choice is left to the individual meaning that they can cherry-pick a gift to suit their needs. There are additional benefits as well; for example with an Argos Giftcard, employees not only have the choice and flexibility of selecting their own gift, but are able to redeem their reward against other retail offers or discounted products, meaning that they can benefit twice from the reward.

“Ultimately, recognising staff needs and aspirations and being able to balance this with the aims of the business is key to making the most out of any incentive scheme. At Argos for Business, we offer our staff a range of benefits throughout the year designed to boost morale and strengthen staff relations. These include performance bonuses, discounts on Argos and Homebase products and a contribution to a staff Christmas party to ensure that everybody feels rewarded. We also hold seasonal inter-department competitions and teambuilding exercises to bring employees together and encourage interaction.”

For more information about Argos for Business, please visit www.argosforbusiness.co.uk