New Workhuman research: 63% of UK workers report increased stress from festive season expenses

Nearly 80% of respondents said they would use rewards points from an employee recognition programme to buy gifts, helping them ease their end-of-year financial burden

Workhuman announced the findings from its latest Human Workplace Index, revealing key insights about UK employees’ expectations around workplace gifts and bonuses, and the impact of the festive season on their work life.

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact UK workers, the research reveals that 63% of UK workers feel stressed by holiday expenses, yet 42% still plan to buy gifts for colleagues, emphasising the value of workplace gratitude. Gift and bonus expectations are high, with 48% hoping for a gift from their manager and 53% anticipating a seasonal bonus.

The study also highlights the impact of year-end traditions on company culture, with 82% of employees reporting increased camaraderie and team events during the festive season. Many (56%) see gifts as a reflection of their performance, underscoring the importance of workplace appreciation during this time of gratitude and connection.

Recognition as the gift that keeps giving

Notably, 77% of Brits said they would use points from peer-to-peer recognition programs to purchase Christmas gifts, while 76% agreed that points-based rewards could help ease holiday spending pressures. Additionally, 61% of UK respondents felt that a formal recognition program would make expressing gratitude feel more natural and encourage them to do so more often.

However, despite the clear appeal, recognition and reward programmes remain far from universal. Gallup research shows that only 34% of global employees say their employer offers such a programme. This disparity not only represents a missed opportunity for companies to offer additional support to their teams during financially demanding times but also to foster a culture of appreciation and connection. Gallup research also shows that employees who receive high-quality recognition are far less likely to leave their jobs. As employees look to give and receive tokens of appreciation, there’s a significant opportunity for employers to introduce or strengthen employee recognition programmes.

“The year-end offers a special opportunity to amplify appreciation, celebrate achievements, and make employees feel truly valued,” said Niamh Graham, Senior Vice President of Global Human Experience at Workhuman. “A well-crafted recognition programme not only boosts year-end gratitude but also serves as a long-term investment in employee satisfaction and company culture. As businesses navigate the challenges of a fluctuating economy, recognition is crucial for fostering a culture of gratitude that lasts throughout the year. When done right, recognition goes beyond holiday gifts, creating lasting connections and positive effects on employee engagement, morale, and an environment where employees feel valued year-round.”

Survey methodology:

The Human Workplace Index surveyed 1,000 full-time employees in the UK and was commissioned by Workhuman and conducted by Pollfish to gain insights into employee engagement and productivity.

About Workhuman: 

Workhuman® is helping companies meet today’s biggest human capital challenges – including unprecedented turnover, employee engagement, hybrid work environments, and DEI – through the Workhuman Cloud®, a secure SaaS platform that provides the industry’s best-in-class Social Recognition® solution. As the leading global provider of technology solutions, analytics, expertise, and services helping organizations of all sizes build and foster workplace cultures powered by employee recognition and crowdsourced feedback, Workhuman is revolutionizing the way employees celebrate, connect with, and appreciate each other in the workplace. Combined with unmatched data through Workhuman iQ™, we empower HR and business leaders with proactive insight to understand issues as they develop and tools to help them make the right decisions to align business objectives and culture to deliver immediate impact. And, with world-class award redemption from our proprietary global e-commerce network, Workhuman is committed to building more connected human-centered workplaces that recognize the value and potential of each and every employee.

For more than 20 years, Workhuman has been pioneering the human workplace by disrupting legacy and obsolete HR approaches to improve the employee experience at work, with solutions that engage with approx. seven million customer employees in 30+ languages, in 180 countries, generating 100 million instances of human connection. With dual headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and Framingham, Massachusetts, Workhuman deploys solutions and services at scale, committed to helping companies improve returns on their most important investment– their people.