The Holiday Practices Survey was conducted in October 2020.  A total of two hundred twenty-five organizations participated this year providing information on topics ranging from holiday scheduling, holiday parties and charitable giving.

Holiday Time-Off

Nearly one-half of the survey participants, (46.2%) reported that their Holiday Practices has been affected by the events of COVID-19.  Based on the additional comments provided, most shared that COVID-19 affected their holiday/social gatherings and a few reported that their half-staff scheduling and time off for Christmas Eve and/or New Year’s Eve were affected.

One hundred-seventeen participating organizations will be providing time-off for Christmas and/or New Year’s Eve.  Over two-thirds, (70.9%) of these organizations will provide half-day off, (23.1%) will provide a full-day off and (6.0%) will provide a mixed combination of a full-day and/or half-day off.

Half-Staff Scheduling Practices: Monday - Friday Work Schedule

Half-Staff Scheduling is a practice where half of the staff is scheduled to work on each respective eve, while the other half of the staff enjoys time off.

Nearly two-thirds of participating organizations, (63.1%) do not plan to offer half-staff scheduling for their Monday - Friday work schedule workforce.  However, (13.4%) of organizations will offer half-staff scheduling for both Christmas and New Year's Eve, (16.4%) remain undecided and (6.7%) are providing other scheduling plans.

Of the thirty organizations that are offering half-staff scheduling, (14.9%) will provide a full day off for Christmas Eve and (16.2%) will provide a full day off for New Year’s Eve. (29.9%) will provide half-day off for Christmas Eve with (27.9) % providing half-day off for New Year’s Eve.  The remaining respondents are currently undecided on their Christmas and New Year’s Eve half-staff scheduling plans.

Holiday Party Practices

Over two-thirds of participating organizations, (68.0%) have reported that they will not have an organization-wide holiday party this year and (25.8%) are undecided. 

Of the survey participants, nearly 80% reported that COVID-19 has affected the organization’s Holiday Party Plans for 2020.  The following are some alternative plans shared by the participants:

• Buying lunch for employees throughout the holiday season.
• Catering in food/individual meals (Bento, Boxed Meals).
• Donating to employee's favorite charity.
• Gift cards for employees.
• Gifting food boxes to employees (Groceries, Turkey, Ham, etc.).
• Giving away door prizes throughout the day.
• Holiday bonus in lieu of party.
• Holiday cake grab and go at work.
• Holiday greetings via email and handing out bentos and holiday inspired treats to our employees.
• Holiday spirit week celebration for staff with treats, games and prize giveaways.
• Home delivery of holiday gifts/baskets for employees.
• Limiting holiday party for employees only - no outside guests.
• Outdoor event – food-truck or picnic, etc.
• Party to go - pick up/distribute
• Small celebration at the office where social distancing can be controlled.
• Virtual get togethers instead of parties and gatherings
• Virtual gift exchanges - pick up curbside or mailed for employee's working at home
• Virtual raffle, lucky number
• Virtual event with focus on strengthening relationships and team building
• We are going to attempt it as a "virtually live" event. That is, an online party with 1,200+ employees.

Community/Charitable Giving Practices

Slightly less than one third of the survey participants, (31.6%) report they will be participating in community/charitable giving this holiday season, which decreased by over ten percent when compared to (41.7%) reported last year.  Less than a quarter of participants, (20.4%) do not plan to participate in charitable giving and (48.0%) of respondents are currently undecided.

Nearly one-fourth, (21.3%) of participating organizations reported that their community/charitable giving has been directly affected by COVID-19.

Of the organizations reporting charitable giving changes due to COVID-19, the list below are some of the changes reported by the participants, in order of responses received.

HEC conducts a variety of compensation and benefits surveys to provide data useful in developing and administering compensation and benefit plans, and personnel policies.  Custom snapshots and comparison reports from our compensation surveys are available, along with customized, proprietary surveys conducted on your behalf.  Our Survey & Compensation experts can also work with members on employee opinion surveys to identify gaps between being an employer of choice and being merely an employer.  For more information, please contact Dawn Mitchell, Manager, Surveys & Compensation Services (dmitchell@hecouncil.org), or Susan Amuro, Surveys & Research Analyst (samuro@hecouncil.org).