SAUSALITO, CA — (Marketwire) — 11/30/12 — With the holidays around the corner and expectations around what the New Year may bring, , a jobs and career community, has released a new survey(1) that reveals employees(2) work-related resolutions for 2013, their preferences for employer-gifted holiday perks, expectations for time off during the holidays and bonus expectations.
The survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive© on behalf of Glassdoor among more than 2,050 U.S. workers ages 18 and over between November 8-12, 2012.
: One-third (32 percent) of employees said that a salary raise is their top work-related resolution for 2013, followed by looking for a new job (23 percent), improving their performance/rating by their supervisor (21 percent), attending work related training (16 percent), taking/using all their vacation days earned (13 percent), and socializing with work colleagues more (nine percent), among others. Younger employees are more focused on securing a salary raise in 2013, as 40 percent of 18-34 year olds say a raise is their top work-related resolution, compared to 33 percent of 35-44 year olds, 20 percent of 45-54 year olds, and 27 percent of 55+ year olds. While most employees favor a salary raise in 2013, employees 45-54 years old say their top resolution for 2013 is looking for a new job (24 percent). Also, two percent of employees said their top work-related resolution in 2013 is to help get their boss/supervisor fired.
“As employment confidence gradually improves, it-s no surprise to see employees looking to wrest back control over their own destiny, which is why we see their focus on more money, a new job or a fresh commitment to their on-the-job performance,” said Rusty Rueff, Glassdoor career and workplace expert, who has led global HR departments at Electronic Arts and PepsiCo before co-authoring Talent Force: A New Manifesto for the Human Side of Business. “But good economy or tough economy, adequate and expected take home pay is always top of mind and employees are sending a clear message that they want this most — not only during this holiday season, but next year too.”
: Nearly three in four employees (73 percent) said that a cash bonus would be among their top choices for employer-gifted holiday perks this year, followed by a salary raise (60 percent), paid time off that doesn-t count against vacation (36 percent), grocery gift cards (29 percent), working from home for a year (13 percent), company stock/shares (nine percent), health care subsidy (nine percent), and gym membership (seven percent). For the second straight year(3), holiday parties, even with an open bar, continue to be an unpopular perk (five percent this year and four percent in 2011). Plus, those who earn more money want more money — 77 percent of employees with a total household income of $75,000+ per year want a cash bonus this holiday season, compared to 62 percent whose household income totals between $35,000-$49,900, 68 percent whose total household income is between $50,000-$74,900, and 72 percent whose total household income is less than $35,000.
“When it comes to holiday perks, be sure to communicate and draw a line of sight to what made the perk possible. For example, are we partying tonight because the company achieved its annual goals? Did a specific department surpass projections? It-s essential to explain to employees what made a perk possible so they understand their hard work is appreciated and recognized, as well as providing history and context if next year isn-t as good,” added Rueff.
A comparison of several holiday perk preferences this year compared to last year is below:
One in four employees (26 percent) say it will be harder to take time off for the holidays this year than it was last year, compared to eight percent who say it will be easier, and 55 percent who say it will be the same.
“It-s that time of year when many want to use up some of their vacation days so they can enjoy time with friends and family. If you manage a team of people, communicate holiday vacation policies early in order to give people time to plan. Employees will appreciate hearing how to best handle vacation requests, and have a reminder of office holidays and any work-related holiday celebrations,” said Rueff. “If you are an employee wanting time off this holiday season, set up time to speak with your boss or supervisor as soon as possible. The more time you give your boss to plan and the more prepared you are to handle your work responsibilities, the better chances you-ll have in securing the time off. First come, first served usually works when it comes to time-off requests.”
Three in four employees (76 percent) say they are eligible for a bonus this year, an increase from 73 percent who said they were bonus eligible last year, and up 13 percentage points compared to 63 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008(4). Of employees eligible for a bonus this year, 58 percent expect to receive a bonus, 37 percent do not, and seven percent are not sure if their bonus this year will be more, less, or the same amount as last year. In addition, younger male employees are more optimistic than younger female employees to receive a bonus — Male employees 18-34 years old (60 percent) expect to receive a bonus this year, compared to female employees 18-34 years old (44 percent).
For more information about Glassdoor and to see salary information for specific job titles at more than 225,000 companies, please visit or the company-s blog .
(1)The 2012 survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of from November 8-12, 2012 among 2,059 adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,066 are employed full-time/part-time. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
(2)For the purposes of this survey, “employees” were defined as U.S. adults 18+ employed full time and/or part time unless otherwise indicated.
(3)The 2011 survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Glassdoor from November 3-7, 2011 among 2,574 adults ages 18 and older of whom 1,342 are employed full time/part time. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
(4)The 2008 survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Glassdoor from December 16-18, 2008 among 2,281 adults ages 18 and older of whom 1,331 are employed full time/part time. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
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