The Reality of Modern Holiday Benefits: Managing Workplace Expectations Gone are the days when holiday bonuses and extended time off were standard workplace benefits. Today's corporate landscape prioritizes shareholder value and profit margins over traditional employee perks. Many companies have scaled back on: - Holiday bonuses that once helped employees through the season - Office celebrations and gatherings that built team spirit - Flexible holiday schedules that allowed quality time with family This shift reflects broader changes in corporate culture, where quarterly profits and shareholder expectations increasingly drive decision-making. Production and manufacturing sectors particularly feel this pressure, with tighter deadlines and increased workloads becoming common during holiday periods. Advice for Job Seekers: Read employment contracts carefully. Benefits that aren't explicitly stated in writing shouldn't be expected. Today's workplace requires thorough understanding of your compensation package, including holiday policies, before accepting a position. Happy Holidays.

🇳🇿 Public Holidays 📅 Employers will sometimes need to pay casual employees for a public holiday where they didn’t work. For example, a public holiday might be an “otherwise working day” for a casual employee where: 1. The public holiday happens during a window when the casual has been asked to work full-time (E.g. to cover a colleague who’s taken 4 weeks leave, or during a seasonally busy period); or 2. The casual employee has been asked to work on several of those days in a row (e.g. the public holiday is a Wednesday, and has worked the last four Wednesdays in a row).

Holiday Bonuses and Year-End Perks: Why They Matter for Employee Retention 🎁 The holiday season is the perfect time to show your employees how much you value the great work they’ve done throughout the year. You can offer your team perks like cash bonuses, extra PTO, vouchers, or personalized gifts. Don’t forget to include a heartfelt message to express your genuine appreciation for their work, efforts, and presence in the company. 🤗 This can help boost morale and may increase loyalty. After all, who doesn’t love hearing they’ve done a great job and receiving some extra compensation for it? Not only does this help foster a more positive workplace culture, but it also gives employees extra motivation to start the new year even stronger. 💪🏻 What holiday perks does your company offer to show appreciation for your team? Share your favorite ideas below! 👇 #EmployeeRetention #HolidayBonuses

"🎁 Holiday Perks for Employees: What's the Deal? 🎄✨ Looking back, remember when everyone used to get a free turkey during the holidays? 🦃🍗 Well, times have changed! Let's discuss some awesome perks that employers can offer their employees this holiday season. From extra paid time off to fun office parties, there are so many ways to show appreciation. Share your thoughts in the comments below! ⬇️ #HolidayPerks #EmployeeAppreciation #WorkLifeBalance"

Can employees refuse to work on Australia Day? With Australia Day approaching, it’s time to revisit workplace policies around public holidays. Can employees refuse to work on Australia Day? As an employer, understanding your rights and obligations is crucial to maintaining a compliant and harmonious workplace. Under the Fair Work Act, employees have the right to refuse work on a public holiday, if their refusal is deemed reasonable. What’s considered reasonable depends on factors such as: ✅ The nature of the work (e.g., essential services versus retail) ✅ Personal circumstances of the employee, such as family or cultural commitments ✅ Whether sufficient notice was given ✅ The operational needs of your business Employers must also ensure their requests to work are reasonable. Open communication is key—discuss rosters and expectations early and be open to accommodating legitimate concerns. Here’s how you can proactively manage public holiday work requests: 1️⃣ Plan Ahead: Publish rosters early and allow employees to raise concerns well in advance. 2️⃣ Encourage Transparency: Create an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their availability. 3️⃣ Review Workplace Policies: Ensure your public holiday work policies align with the Fair Work Act and are clearly communicated to all employees. Navigating public holiday work arrangements doesn’t have to be complex. By fostering clear communication and understanding the legal framework, you can balance operational needs with employee satisfaction. If you need assistance refining your approach to public holiday work, Strategic HR Australia is here to help with expert guidance tailored to your business needs. Let’s make public holiday planning smooth and stress-free for your business! #StrategicHR #AustraliaDay #PublicHolidays #FairWorkAct #HRCompliance

From the Hustle: Do people even care about office holiday parties anymore? Apparently, yes. According to ezCater’s 2024 Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report, 81% of people are planning to attend their company’s holiday party this year.   And with bigger budgets on hand — 92% of decision makers expect to spend the same or more compared to last year — they’d be best spent on the one thing driving attendance: food. Nearly 80% of surveyed workers said it’s what they are most looking forward to; one in 10 have even skipped a holiday party because the food sounded mid.   Another thing exciting employees is — surprise — booze: 69% of employees want alcoholic drinks to be available, though 27% of decision makers reportedly aren’t keen on providing them.   Where can companies skimp? Festive add-ons: Less than 25% of respondents said they’re enticed by extras like activities, entertainment, photobooths, and speeches.

My View on a 4-Day Week A lot of businesses have introduced 4-day work weeks. They tend to pay the same as for 5 days. I can see the appeal—individuals get an extra day off, and with technology developing, work has become more efficient over the last 10 years or so. Companies have the freedom to choose to introduce this, as it’s their money and their prerogative. One area where this logic cannot be applied is the public sector. The latest reports suggest councils in the UK are considering moving to 4-day weeks, with pay remaining the same. Firstly, the councils don’t have any money—they have our money, paid for through council tax and other measures. So, if their staff are working 20% less, this should come with a pay cut and reinvestment into other areas. Councils are in place to ensure that the locals get the best possible services and support—most of us can agree this isn’t happening. So, we’ve found out this is because the staff are effectively not working 20% of the time. Businesses can choose, but local government can’t. Unless I’m missing something?

Tired of the juggling act with employee holiday requests? You're not alone! We often hear from businesses that one of their biggest HR challenges is dealing with employee holiday bookings. Ensuring fair holiday allocation and avoiding coverage gaps can be tough. But it doesn't have to be such a headache! With the right tools you can simplify the process by providing clear information to make holiday planning smoother and more efficient.  What's your biggest hurdle with employee holiday bookings? Curious to learn more? Check out our blog: Managing Employee Holiday Bookings: Heaven or Hell? https://lnkd.in/eiaua7BH Let’s explore ways to make holiday planning smoother for everyone!

Taking a break shouldn't feel like a battle! This week's blog dives into the Shop and Office Act, clarifying your rights to meals and intervals at work in Sri Lanka. Here are some important areas this week's blog will clarify for you: ✅What are my break entitlements? ✅How long are my breaks? ✅What are my employer's responsibilities concerning meals and breaks?   Now that we have discussed all about leave entitlements as per Shop and Office Act, we hope that you now know exactly how to maximize the benefits of your leave balances. Tune in next week to learn, what happens to your leaves when you're terminated? https://lnkd.in/gb_5zDGX

Do you answer emails when on holiday? A recent article on HR News has shed light on a concerning trend in the world of annual leave. According to the study, over 75% of Brits admit to responding to work emails even when on holiday. Additionally, the survey highlighted a concerning trend of managers contacting employees during their vacation time. Almost 40% of respondents reported that their manager has reached out to them about work or even revoked their annual leave without good reason. This not only undermines employees' much-needed rest but also raises questions about respect for work-life boundaries. This raises questions about work-life balance and the pressure to always stay connected in today's fast-paced work environment. As we navigate the ever-evolving work landscape, it is important for businesses to ensure good work-life balance practices and respect employees' need for time off. Encouraging a healthy culture that supports unplugging and recharging can lead to higher productivity, job satisfaction, and overall well-being. Let's work towards fostering a work environment where annual leave is truly seen as a time for rest and rejuvenation. #WorkLifeBalance #AnnualLeave #HR #Recruitment #HumanResources #Holiday