Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412140004
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: F3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: COX NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium
Experts say the trend is especially prevalent at small and midsize companies, where profits are on the upswing. It's happening less at large companies, where the leading concern is not whether Christmas bonuses are given, but whether employees can keep their jobs.
``Big companies are still downsizing or are thinking about it, and - perhaps appropriately - they are not making kind gestures around the holidays because employees might look at this with suspicion,'' said Bill Kahnweiler, assistant professor of human resource development at Georgia State University.
But for smaller firms, he said, ``the economic climate is a little more favorable or is forecast to be more favorable than in years past. Also, employers have learned a lesson from recent years: Not being gracious has a de-motivational effect on employees.''
Many managers give bonuses based on company performance.
``A lot of companies today only give Christmas bonuses that are based on profitability and that aren't just giveaways,'' said Sandra O'Neil, head of HR Associates in Miami, a human-resource consulting firm. ``Employers realize that this allows employees to become a part of the success of their company and to push for that success.
``This is especially true at small companies, which tend to be more paternalistic than large ones,'' she said. ``The owners of small companies like to get their employees involved, like everyone's part of one big family working for the same goal.''
And employees appreciate the effort.
Denny Warrick, one of 30 employees at AAA Airport Express Inc. in Atlanta, raves about his company's perks.
``We usually have a big dinner at my boss's house, and cash bonuses are given out based on how long an employee has been here,'' he said. ``Each year, all the employees get a gift, and last year they ranged from jackets to a weekend at Callaway Gardens [a Georgia resort]. ... Employees definitely work harder, at least in the months before Christmas.''
For many workers, however, Christmas is just a time to collect their standard paychecks.
``We get no cash bonuses, no time off except one day for Christmas, no party,'' said Rosa West, a clerk at a large telecommunication firm.
And Tom Tourand, a middle manager in government, says employees there receive no bonuses and no extra time off to shop.
``We used to at least get Christmas parties, but we don't get anything anymore,'' he said.
In fact, most public-sector workers don't.
``Bonuses and special things around the holidays don't ever happen in the public sector, because it's the taxpayers' money that would have to be used,'' said Lloyd Nigro, professor of public administration at Georgia State.
``These workers are just out of luck, except that they do get more paid holidays throughout the year than workers in the private sector.''
by CNB