Israeli Workers Prefer Cash or Vouchers Over Physical Gifts for Holidays

A new survey by AllJobs reveals that Israeli employees overwhelmingly prefer flexible holiday gifts, with 86% wishing for options that allow them to choose how to use the gift. Specifically, 45% of respondents would prefer a rechargeable card, voucher, or gift certificate, while 41% would opt for cash. In contrast, only 11% expressed a preference for a physical product.

However, the reality of holiday gifts received does not fully align with these preferences. The survey found that 42% of employees received vouchers or gift cards, and 13% received physical items. The most significant gap is with cash gifts, which 41% desired but only 7% actually received.

Employees attach considerable importance to holiday gifts, with approximately three-quarters considering them highly important. The survey also highlighted disparities based on company size. Employees in smaller companies (fewer than 10 employees) were less likely to have received a holiday gift (31%) compared to those in larger firms (over 500 employees, 77%).

Among those who have already received their holiday gifts, 56% valued them at 400 shekels or more, with the most common range being 400-600 shekels. Overall, 63% of recipients reported satisfaction with their gifts. When compared to the previous year, 38% felt the gift's value remained the same, 15% saw an increase, and 11% reported a decrease.

Hila Moskal, VP of Marketing and Content at AllJobs, stated that while employees value holiday gifts and are generally satisfied, their preference for choice is clear. She emphasized that cash or vouchers allow employees to meet their personal needs and that the value of a gift is measured not just by its monetary amount but also by the freedom of choice it offers.