While a box of traditional sweets is the least desirable gift for office workers, cash and gift coupons/vouchers, prepaid cards are most desired this Diwali festival, noted a just-concluded survey by apex industry body ASSOCHAM.

The ASSOCHAM conducted an online survey to gauge 1,000 full-time office workers' opinions and about 500 human resource professionals on Diwali festival bonuses given by companies and their desired gifts between October 1 - October 15 in 10 cities of - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Mumbai.

The ASSOCHAM survey showed that 45 per cent of office workers wanted cash or gift coupons/vouchers, 35 per cent wanted gadgets/electronic item/home appliances/utensils and other such things for personal use or for use in their households, 15 per cent gift-boxes of sweets or cookies and the remaining preferred various other things.

However over half of the HR professionals that ASSOCHAM interacted with said that cash rewards have the lowest impact and do little to improve employee satisfaction and performance, many of these opined that non-financial rewards have a greater and longer-lasting effect on employee.

Most of the HR professionals said their companies have identified staff members who have consistently performed better and deserve to be recognised with something 'tangible.'

"Most of the companies in private sector have gradually moved away from a fixed Diwali bonus and instead provide benefits considering employees' individual performance for past few years, so hardly any change is expected on this front," said Mr D.S. Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM while releasing findings of the chamber's survey.

Many HR representatives also said that though they have earmarked a certain amount towards corporate gifting, but they have not increased their budget compared to last year.

Many of these said they plan to give gift hampers including assorted chocolates, imported liquor, genuine leather bags and even personalised gifts like gym/club membership to their deserving employees and clients this year.

Crockery, sweets, dry fruits, bed sheets, gold coins, home décor, tableware, luxury watches, designer apparel, expensive writing instruments, free holiday packages, movie tickets, dinner coupons, spa vouchers and hampers with a mix of festive essentials like torans, diyas, aromatic candles remain certain other popular gift options this year too, Assocham report said.

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