A home exercise machine replaces the fitness card

Companies plan to replace the Christmas bonus for their employees with gifts such as extra leave, health insurance or a consultation with a psychologist. This is clear from a survey of 100 Bulgarian and international companies operating in Sofia and Plovdiv, mainly in the sectors of telecommunications, finance, high technology, outsourcing, trade and manufacturing.

Despite the challenging year, the companies have not given up on paying additional health insurance to their employees. Maintaining emotional health and a sense of belonging to the team are also among the main focuses in companies.

Companies that have the financial capacity for additional incentives for their employees this year will invest in season-themed products and gifts, according to a study by Adeco. Employers seek to diversify the package of social benefits and compensations they give to their employees in order to meet their more complex needs and individual achievements. Many material but not direct financial incentives are also provided. Undoubtedly, this year the most important additional benefits for the employees are the reliable additional health insurance, the opportunity to work from home and the additional days off.

Some employers offer the option to replace the sports cards they have provided to their employees with targeted funding for the purchase of fitness equipment for the home. The reason is that the gyms are closed and people cannot use their cards.

The companies also implement many online activities that mimic standard team building.

Some of the Christmas corporate parties will also be virtual, where there will be such, as employers rely on more and more creative ideas on how to organize them by sending products and individual gifts to the homes of employees.

Half of the companies are cutting staff

Due to the COVID crisis, half of the companies have given up planned investments this year, and 45% have started staff reductions.

This is clear from a survey of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce among Bulgarian business for the past year, marked by COVID. According to the study 39 percent of the companies have introduced partial or full telecommuting. 38% of the companies have made investments in order to comply with the anti-epidemic regulations. One third (35%) had to dismiss part or all of their staff on unpaid leave for a certain period of time. 21% focused on the development of online sales, and 18% transformed their production in the direction of changing products and/or markets.