This year more companies are planning to present gifts to employees and clients.
So says the annual corporate gift-giving report from the Advertising Specialty Institute, which says that 42% plan to reward employees — a small increase from 2017, when 40% gave gifts — and 37% intend to show their clients appreciation in the form of gifts, up 5 percentage points from last year.
They're not really breaking open the corporate coffers to do it, though; nearly 80% of respondent companies said they're planning to stick to last year's budget overall for holiday business gift-giving. Customers, however, will probably be on the receiving end of a tad more largesse, while employees get short shrift. Employers giving holiday gifts to customers or prospects plan to spend more on them this year than last — an average of $48 on each, up from last year's $46.
But when it comes to employees, companies are planning on shaving expenses. While 75% of companies planning to thank employees do intend to include all workers, that doesn't mean they'll be spending more to do so. Last year the average cost per employee was $79; this year the average is expected to be down $14, to $65 apiece.
