Express Employment Professionals’ America Employed and Canada Employed press series explore the state of employment in North America, including everything from hiring expectations and HR challenges to job seekers’ optimism and shrinking the skills gap. Learn about the latest insights uncovered in a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey.
As festive lights go up and office parties fill calendars, many employees feel more pressured than joyful when it comes to giving, and that generosity may come with strings attached.
US Hiring Managers Report a Sense of Obligation
Ninety-four percent of hiring managers say their company hosts celebrations, most commonly for holidays (61%), birthdays (51%), and work anniversaries (50%). Nearly two-thirds (64%) report that employees regularly exchange gifts.
More than half of hiring managers say their employees feel compelled to give gifts to:
- Direct Reports: 56%
- Managers/Supervisors: 55%
- Mentors, Peers and/or Senior Leadership: 52%
Notably, more than a third say their employees feel a lot of, or extreme, pressure.
Canadian Job Seekers Feel Financial and Emotional Toll
While 85% of job seekers report their company hosts celebrations and 33% say gift exchanges are common, more than half feel pressured to give gifts to coworkers, especially for birthdays, work anniversaries, or holidays. However, 60% say they are comfortable giving gifts to peers for personal occasions.
The financial and emotional toll of gift giving extends past feeling pressured to negative impacts on team dynamics.
- 73% say the pressure to give gifts disproportionately affects employees who earn less
- 67% believe it opens the door to favouritism
- 64% agree these exchanges foster a sense of obligation that can negatively impact team dynamics
- 47% feel pressured to spend a specific amount on gifts
“Gift giving is never about the item itself. It’s about the relationship,” said Bob Funk Jr., CEO, President and Chairman of Express Employment International. “In any workplace, the real value comes from the exchange of support, time, and shared achievements. When expectations around price or participation creep in, it shifts the focus away from what matters. The holidays should strengthen connections, not create pressure or financial strain. The real value is in the relationship.”
Read more about the latest employment insights in America Employed at ExpressPros.com and Canada Employed at ExpressPros.ca.
