Spenders and Scrooges

Small business bosses are divided into two main groups at Christmas - those who splash out to provide their employees with entertainment and those who don’t pay anything or whose employees are too busy working to have a break.

The survey by small business information site BizHelp24 has found that 24.9 per cent of small business owners will spend more than £200 per employee on parties and entertainment this Christmas.

However, the Christmas spirit is not as present in the 23.2 per cent who say their employees are too busy working to have a party, or the 14.3 per cent whose employees pay for their own party.

Says Colin Duguid, managing director of BizHelp24: “Although you may genuinely be too busy or short of cash flow to hold an office party, it is still important to show your staff that they are appreciated this holiday season. Remember that entertainment costing less than £150 per employee is usually tax deductible, making it easier to afford than many other gestures.

“Appreciated employees are loyal and work harder. If cash flow is a problem, giving them a credit card and taking five minutes to thank them for their effort is crucial. You could also consider allowing staff to leave a bit early in the days before Christmas or give them a day off to go shopping.”