A bonus ranks as the top item employees would most like from their companies during the holidays, according to the 2018 Holidays at Work Survey commissioned by Spherion Staffing Services.

Forty-one percent ranked a bonus as the number one item they would most like. However, 46% said their company does not give holiday bonuses or any other monetary gifts during the holidays, and for those that do get a bonus at the holidays, the majority receive less than $500.

Slightly more than half of employees surveyed, 52%, describe the holidays at their workplaces as “business as usual,” while 36% said their companies are “generous” around the holidays and 13% reported their companies are “stingy” during the holidays.

Employees cited the following as the perks companies are offering this year:

• Holiday party: 36%
• Extra time off: 28%
• Holiday bonus: 26%
• Office closure between Christmas and New Years’ Day: 22%
• Company-paid holiday meal: 18%
• Employee gift exchange: 18%

Companies are also giving back to the community, with 46% of employees surveyed saying their company will participate in charitable activities/give back to the community this holiday season. The top activity will be food/clothing/toy/other drives at 51%, followed by company volunteer events and adopting a needy family or child, at 18% and 15% respectively.

The survey was conducted by Research Now SSI in November 2018. It included more than 1,000 consumers.