They say it was a happy place before I arrived (Photo: ShutterStock)
The budget for funding welfare activities for employees in 2022 in the commercial companies in the economy was 1,650 shekels on average per employee, a figure that reflects a 13% increase from what was done in 2021. This is according to a review recently carried out by Oketz Systems, a company that provides computerized solutions in the field of human resources.
According to the review, the average budget per employee in high-tech companies in Israel this year was NIS 3,200, while among bio-tech companies, the amount is NIS 2,750.
At the same time, Oketz economists point out that from many conversations held with human resources and welfare departments in the organizations, a picture of the situation emerges according to which in the shadow of the certain slowdown in the economy, and in light of the darkening of the economic horizon, an estimated decrease of 15-25% in the welfare budget will apply during the coming year.
In most organizations, the welfare budget usually includes benefits for employees to buy in certain stores, gift certificates, etc., as well as the purchase of a birthday gift and greeting for each employee, and/or a toast and light refreshments for the team/department each month for employees who celebrated their birthday.
In addition, this also includes raising toasts on Rosh Hashanah and Pesach and celebrations in the office on other holidays.
Also, the budget usually also includes an annual vacation at a hotel for employees and their families, formation days and departmental/team welfare evenings, including a one-year event (or more) for all employees of the organization.
As part of the review, welfare activities were also analyzed for their types, according to budget distribution.
Team building days
Sara Levy, CEO of Eshel Productions, one of the dominant companies in Israel in the field of production of fun days and training for employees, points out that over the past year, in the shadow of the increase in prices in the economy, there has been a corresponding jump of 10-20% in the cost of a training day, depending on its nature, for the contents that are included in it And for the complexity of the production: "As of today, the average cost for a quality training day, which includes meals and two attractions, is between NIS 400-500 per employee, when the price goes up, depending on the welfare director's choice," she says.
For example, during the year 2022, quite a few of the companies took their employees to training days that include driving on razors.
"Of course, every such training day also includes a culinary episode, which includes meals. Training cannot be done on an empty stomach, and along with the increase in food awareness, there is also an increase in the scope of requirements for quality culinary solutions."
In addition, she says that many companies contacted her this year, for the purpose of producing various workshops, including food workshops, laughter workshops, etc.
At the same time, she adds that apart from production capacity, the name of the game is service provision, along with the formulation of customized and individual solutions: the companies in Israel pose a considerable challenge to the production companies: "We are required to build for each client the perfect formation evening. Adapted to the type of population, problems The existence of the employees, the needs of the managers, and the budget available to each customer. This is completely a tailor-made suit."
gifts for the holidays
According to the data, the average value of the gift received by farm workers in non-union companies for Rosh Hashanah this year is NIS 270.
A dramatic increase of 100% was recorded in the restaurant industry, where the value of the gift jumped from NIS 130 on average last year to NIS 260 this year.
In the advertising and PR industry, employees will receive a stipend of NIS 370, and in the insurance agencies there is also an impressive increase of 52%, from a level of 230 NIS in the year to 350 NIS this year.
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This year there will probably be fewer food workshops (Photo: Reuven Castro)
Employees who belong to the trade and services industry will receive an average value of NIS 250 this year, while in the textile industry, the value will be NIS 290.
Even in the industrial sectors, which traditionally hand out gifts at a relatively low level, there was a correction and an increase in the amount of the gift: in the metal industry, workers will receive a gift of 180 shekels, while in the food industry the gift will be 140 shekels.
The bottom of the table is closed by the nursing and guarding branches with 100 and 80 shekels respectively.
Gifts for birthdays/special occasions
According to the review, the average value of a birthday gift given this year to farm workers (in the non-unionized company) was NIS 250.
And when it comes to a wedding, the amounts of course skyrocket.
The data shows that the value of the item/the amount of money the employees received for their wedding during the past year was 650 shekels, while for the occasion of a bar mitzvah or alliance - she gave them a gift in the average amount of 350 shekels.
And probably less shows too... (Photo: ShutterStock)
And what will the year 2023 look like in terms of welfare policy?
At the end of January last year, about 4,500 people came to the exhibition grounds in Tel Aviv, including the management and employees of Microsoft from Israel and abroad, their families and friends, who were privileged to attend, which for many high-tech companies was an extreme point in terms of the financial investment in it, which is estimated at several million shekels. At the show, the company was ordered to Israeli artists, who sang covers and special arrangements of Queen's songs in English: Berry Sakharof, Ivri Lider, the Jewish Band, Marina Maximilian, Yam Rafaeli, Ninet, Shiri Maimon and Aviv Gefen.
"In my estimation, this year, the companies will reduce the scope of their budgets, either as a constraint in light of flow difficulties and in order not to pry their eyes on the current reality," notes Haim Molcho, CEO of Oketz Systems. The reality is going to change, he adds: in recent years, cyber companies Large companies such as Amdocs, Check Point, Mellanox, along with dozens of smaller hi-tech companies and start-up companies, have closed corporate bonds with budgets of millions of shekels, but this year we will see leaner budgets, and a more careful economic policy."
Sarah Levy concludes: the name of the game is to create a beneficial experience for the employee that will increase his loyalty to the organization, that will be engraved in his memory as a significant moment on the timeline, and not another passing event.
For this purpose, huge budgets of thousands of shekels per employee are not necessarily required, but a lot of creativity, experience and, of course, flight, all of which together, allow us to produce unforgettable events, evenings and experiences for companies, with reasonable budgets.
Of money
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