ZAGREB, 9 Dec (Hina) – Three-quarters of employees in Croatia, or 74%, expect a Christmas bonus, a noticeable drop compared to last year’s 86%, and on average, they hope to receive €464, €65 more than the average amount received last year, according to a survey published on Tuesday by the portal MojPosao.

Alma Career Croatia, an international company best known for the MojPosao brand, conducted the survey with over 400 respondents. The study shows that the Christmas bonus is expected to be paid into the accounts of the majority of employees in Croatia.

However, the researchers note that this year, employee expectations are somewhat more moderate than in previous years. About three-quarters of employees in Croatia, 74%, expect a Christmas bonus, a significant decrease from last year’s 86%. Yet this figure is almost identical to the share of employees who actually received a bonus last year, 75%, suggesting that expectations are gradually aligning with reality.

On the other hand, around a quarter of employees, 26%, believe their employer will not give them a Christmas bonus this year, citing stricter company policies or weaker business results as the main reasons.

Majority expect cash payment

Among those expecting a bonus this year, the vast majority, 90%, as in previous years, anticipate a cash payment, with an average amount of €464, €65 higher than the amount employees received last year.

Researchers note that employees used to more accurately predict the amounts they would receive from employers. Before the introduction of the euro, employee predictions were almost exact, with minimal deviations. Since the switch to the new currency, a larger gap has emerged between expectations and reality. “Although our expectations have traditionally been slightly higher than the actual amounts paid, only in 2023 was there a noticeable overestimation of Christmas bonuses, so employees are still adjusting to amounts in euros,” they observe.

As in previous years, alternative forms of Christmas bonuses remain secondary. Only one-fifth of employees expect a shopping voucher, while 9% hope for a gift package.

Optimism highest in foreign-owned private companies

83% of employees in state-owned companies expect a Christmas bonus, as do 93% of workers in public institutions and administration. However, employees in public institutions estimate that they will receive an average of €355 this year, the lowest expected amount among respondents. Employees in state-owned companies anticipate a slightly higher bonus, around €368.

The most optimistic are employees of foreign-owned private companies, who expect an average bonus of €514, the highest among all groups. Nevertheless, a slightly smaller share of employees in these companies actually expects a bonus, 80%.

On the other hand, employees of domestically-owned private companies, 71% of them, are the least confident in receiving a bonus, with an expected average of €498.

The survey also showed that one-third of employees, 32%, perceive the Christmas bonus as a gesture of goodwill from the employer and a form of appreciation for their efforts and achievements during the year. However, 68%В consider the bonus a right for every employee, and many admit they would resent the employer if it were not paid.

For comparison, last year 29% of employees saw the bonus as a goodwill gesture, while two years ago, 34% held this view.

According to MojPosao, additional debate has been fuelled by neighbouring Slovenia, which recently regulated the mandatory payment of Christmas bonuses, prompting discussions about whether Croatia should do the same. Most employees support this idea, although some fear that a legal obligation might lead some employers to reduce base salaries to coverВ the bonus.

Ideal Christmas bonus would be €592

Regarding the amount that would truly satisfy employees in Croatia, the survey showed that the ideal Christmas bonus would be €592, eight euros less than last year, but 28% above the expected amount for this year.

The largest share of employees, 39%, plan to use the bonus to cover basic living expenses, a slight decrease from last year. A quarter of employees will spend the bonus on gifts, 10% will save it, and 8% will use it to pay off debts. Finally, 13% of respondents will use the bonus to buy small luxuries they could not otherwise afford.