Russians were told the number of companies ready to pay New Year's bonuses

New Year's spending is growing faster than expected, and December is turning into the most financially stressful month of the year for many Russians. Against the background of increased workload, employees (67%) expect holiday bonuses, but not all employers (53%) are ready to give them out. This follows from the data of a study conducted by the accounting department for the My Business, which was reviewed on November 27 by Izvestia.

"To prevent holiday expenses from getting out of control, it is worthwhile to make a list of mandatory purchases in advance and set a limit for each category. This will help you avoid spending too much under the influence of sales and promotions that seem profitable, but in fact lead to additional, often unnecessary expenses. It is useful to record expenses in an application or table. This will allow you to adjust the budget in time," the experts of the accounting department for the My Business recommend.

According to the survey, December is becoming the most expensive month of the year for many. The main cost overruns are related to groceries, gifts, and entertainment, with almost half of the respondents citing rising prices as a key reason for the increased burden on the budget. A third of Russians spend significantly more than usual in December, and 42% spend two or three times more. Some citizens are forced to borrow money or apply for loans, but no one reported receiving money as a gift, which makes the New Year's bonus a significant part of the budget.

The festive mood for most is associated with home traditions.: home decoration, garland lights and family activities. At the same time, a quarter of the respondents feel the holiday approaching only on the evening of December 31, which reflects the difference in perception of the pre-holiday atmosphere.

It's hard: the gap between the pensions of the employed and the unemployed has reached a minimum since 2021.

When will the payments be equal and what does this mean for the economy?

December is also a busy period for entrepreneurs. A third of managers consider it the time of maximum workload due to reporting and closing projects, and 13% call it the most expensive month. However, 28% say that the end of the year is the peak of profit. Taxes and obligations, additional expenses for corporate events and gifts put the most pressure on the budget of companies. At the same time, most companies tend to plan their budget in advance, distribute the workload, and even postpone some of their expenses until January in order to avoid cash gaps.

About two-thirds of entrepreneurs positively assess the December productivity of employees: either it is growing due to the desire to earn more, or it remains stable. More than half of managers pay New Year's bonuses to all employees as a corporate tradition, and 12% do it selectively. One in ten entrepreneurs refuses bonuses completely, which increases the gap between expectations and real business opportunities.

"Most companies prepare for December in advance: they form a budget, distribute the workload between months, and clarify the team's priorities. This reduces the risk of cash gaps and allows you to close the year without an emergency. When the financial framework is set in advance, managers have the resource to complete key tasks and support employees. This has a noticeable effect on the overall tone of the business at the end of the year," My Business experts say.

In December, many managers review plans for the next year: 62% evaluate the budget and key indicators, 45% evaluate the business strategy, and 23% evaluate the motivation system and team composition.

Sergei Gavrilov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Property, Land and Property Relations, explained in an interview with Izvestia on November 18 who was entitled to the thirteenth salary. According to him, the employer himself determines whether such a payment will be established and by what criteria it is calculated.

The law does not impose a direct obligation on organizations to pay the 13th salary, except in cases where this is explicitly stated in the local acts of the company. Gavrilov explained that the right to receive an annual bonus usually arises when certain conditions are met — achieving targets, no disciplinary action, a full year of work, or management's decision to reward employees for their overall results.

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