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The Stocking Is Half-Full and Half-Empty

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

Here’s one workplace tradition that hasn’t gone by the wayside: year-end bonuses.

One out of two workers will receive holiday cash bonuses, according to a new survey by Xylo Inc., a Web-based workplace consultant. Slightly more than half of the 1,001 workers polled said their employers also throw holiday parties as a year-end reward.

The bonuses vary widely from one company to the next. But 40% say the holiday get-togethers and bonuses have a positive effect on their company loyalty and help boost morale.

At the Employers Group, a nonprofit human-resource management firm with offices in Newport Beach and Los Angeles, employees have received cash bonuses for the last 30 years. Spokeswoman Sydney Kamlager said the bonus amounts increase according to tenure, but are generally no more than $400.

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“I think it’s the company’s way of saying, ‘Thank you for staying; thank you for your loyalty,’ ” Kamlager said. “They know our employees could go into the private sector and make a lot more money, so this is a nice way to show their appreciation.”

Irvine-based Kawasaki Motors Corp. throws an in-house party for its 430 employees and passes out traditional “turkey certificates,” or $25 grocery-store coupons.

“You never have to worry about turkey certificates offending anybody,” said Kawasaki spokesman Jim Klein, noting that some employees choose to donate their free holiday birds to charity. “And because we’ve been doing it so long, people expect it now. It’s sort of our little thing.”

Overall, year-end recognition means the most to men and workers 55 and older, according to the Xylo survey. But that could be because working men are more likely than women to receive year-end recognition: The survey found 55% of men receive cash bonuses compared with 40% of women.

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