Managers can take steps to boost morale and jump-start employee engagement. In down economies, however, you can get creative with your holiday gift idea or you can get stupid - or you can get creatively stupid. "A larger chunk of the small business population has started to think creatively about how to do things without necessarily spending a lot of money," says Alice Bredin, small business adviser to American Express OPEN Small Business Holiday Monitor.

Read more from this and other studies below...

Playing it Smart

As The Wall Street Journal reports today, some small businesses are giving away their own services or turning to old-fashioned favors as a way to thank  workers and customers. At the Proforma Worldwide Support Center in Cleveland, where employees aren't getting raises or bonuses this year, executives have vowed to scrape the snow off all 100 employees' cars at least once a month this winter.

Only 31% of business owners plan to give year-end bonuses this year, down from 44% last year, according to an American Express OPEN Small Business Holiday Monitor, a survey of about 500 business owners.

Only 16% will give raises versus 30% in 2008.

Vicinity Media Group, a publishing company in Fairfield, N.J., is having a joint holiday party with other small businesses this year. CEO David Black purchased tickets for his 19 employees to attend a "Bring Your Own Business" party that will be hosted by Jersey Street Furniture Rental, a party decor company in West Orange, N.J.

Dumbing It Down

Online retailer Stupid.com has released its third annual list of the stupidest gifts, gadgets, presents and stocking stuffers that can be found around the globe for that top-performing employee who already has everything.

"Nothing relieves the tension of a tough year better than a good laugh," says Stupid.com President Jim Kalmenson, adding that 5,000 gag gifts were reviewed to come up with the final 10.

Topping this year's list: a swine flu recovery kit, life vests for golf balls, Freudian slippers and a beer pager that belches with the click of a remote for those who frequently forget where they set down their brewskies.

Editors Note: It's difficult if not impossible to find the list of top 10 stupid gifts on Stupid.com itself. If you just want to see the rundown of the top 10, we found it on the KyivPost.com, which is billed as "the Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995." (I know, go figure.)

Getting Workers to Work

This year, it seems one of the best holiday gift ideas could be cutting your employees some slack.

A new CareerBuilder survey shows that 28% of employers believe more employees are faking illnesses so they can stay home from work to cope with stress and burnout. One in 10 workers admitted to calling in sick so they could skip a meeting or miss a deadline. Almost 30% said they just needed a day off to relax. Another one-third of workers said they simply didn't feel like working, so they gave themselves a day off.

A separate study by consulting firm Watson Wyatt and HR association WorldatWork shows that economy-induced cost-cutting has contributed to a sharp decline in the morale, commitment and job satisfaction of employees - especially among top performers.

Suggestions for minimizing unscheduled absences and for boosting sluggish productivity include:

• Reward employees for finishing end-of-quarter projects or meeting sales goals with time off for shopping or socializing.

• Offer employees greater flexibility with their workday schedules during the weeks leading up to the holidays. Allowing them to work one day a week from home during this busy season will go a long way toward re-energizing them.

• Help employees watch their weight. Organize a weight-management workshop. Challenge employees to set weight goals and earn rewards for hitting those goals.

• Don't let the holidays pass without a celebration. Skipping it sends a downer message to employees who are gloomy enough already. Find affordable ways to recognize and reward them.

Where you buy your holiday gift cards DOES make a difference.

Look for program ideas, special packaging, and pricing you can't get through consumer/retail here: www.SalesForceXP.com/IGCC
 

Where you buy your holiday gift cards DOES make a difference.

Get in touch with the suppliers of the products you need to drive Xtra Performance from your sales teams: www.SalesForceXP.com/IMRA

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