Christmas Bonus From Employer: Why Gift Cards Are the Best Choice in 2025

Why Employers Must Consider Gift Cards As A Christmas Bonus For Employees

As Christmas approaches, employers stumble upon the same question: What should we give employees as a Christmas bonus this year? On one side, employers plan budgets, approvals and timelines. On the other hand, employees are already looking forward to their Christmas bonus. With about 54% of employees viewing gifts as a token of appreciation from their employer, the pressure to make the gift feel special and not obligatory is real. However, choosing the right Christmas gift for employees isn’t always straightforward. One-size-fits-all gifts rarely feel personal. A bottle of wine or a box of chocolates might delight some employees, but others may find them useless. This inconsistency is exactly why many employers have defaulted to cash bonuses over the years. And while cash bonuses did feel sufficient for a long time, workplace expectations have shifted. With digital wallets and modern spending habits, employees now prefer rewards that are flexible and suited to their individual needs. This evolution is precisely what makes gift cards an ideal Christmas bonus for employees today. Let's explore what sets gift cards apart and how to choose the Christmas bonus for your staff

What Makes A Good Christmas Bonus for Employees In 2025?

A recent survey found that 54% of employees who receive corporate gifts admit they've thrown away at least one without even using it. Yet 37% of employers still default to gift baskets as their go-to Christmas bonus. This disconnect highlights a clear mismatch between what companies give and what employees truly want. A good Christmas bonus from employers needs to have these three essential features:

1. It Should Feel Personal:

Employees want Christmas gifts they can actually use, not generic hampers. Which is why staff increasingly expect bonuses that feel thoughtful. While customising a gift for every individual employee might seem overwhelming, even personalising your message makes a significant difference in how the bonus is received.

2. It Should Be Flexible:

Christmas is an expensive time of the year. From last-minute shopping to travel, employees rarely want a gift they would not personally spend on. This is why flexible options like gift cards are becoming more popular. They let employees use their Christmas bonus on what actually matters to them, whether that’s groceries, gifts, or a dinner out.

3. It Must Be Tax Efficient:

In Ireland, employers are already looking for smart Christmas bonus options that don’t increase tax burdens for the company or the employee. Cash bonuses are often added to the payroll and taxed like regular income. This is why more employers are turning to tax-efficient alternatives such as employee gift cards or Christmas vouchers, which can qualify for exemptions under Ireland’s Small Benefit Exemption. This scheme allows employers to give their staff a tax-free benefit or gift. The gift limit for 2025 is €1,500 per employee per year. There is no PRSI PAYE or USC when the benefit is not part of a salary sacrifice. This can range from gift cards to hotel vouchers, gym memberships, and… CleverCards!The scheme allows for five separate gifts in one tax year (if the total value of gifts surpasses €1,500, the entire amount becomes taxable). You can calculate your Tax Savings with our tax calculator.

Why Should Employers Consider Gift Cards For Christmas Bonuses?

After understanding what makes a good Christmas bonus in 2025, gift cards stand out as the one reward that consistently ticks all three boxes of being personal, flexible and tax-efficient. In fact, in a recent survey, employees were asked what they would actually prefer as a gift, 44% chose gift cards over food & drink hampers or wellness gifts.

This preference is not surprising. Gift cards offer employees the perfect freedom to spend on whatever they need while being tax-compliant. Here are a few reasons why gift cards are a great Christmas bonus for workers:

1. Multi-Purpose:

Gift cards, especially open-loop cards, are powered by payment networks like Mastercard or Visa. These cards can be used anywhere across the world where these networks are accepted. Which means employees can spend the gift however they like.

2. Personalised:

While you can't buy custom gifts for every team member, gift cards allow employees to personalise the reward themselves by choosing exactly what they want. Moreover, they feel more personal since the gift they choose to spend the card on will be unique from other employees. Gift cards can further be personalised with a custom message for each recipient.

3. Tax-Compliant:

In Ireland, gift cards qualify under the Small Benefit Exemption Scheme, allowing employees to receive up to €1,500 tax-free. This makes them financially more viable than cash, since employees can now save on taxes.

4. Instant & Efficient:

December is already chaotic. Coordinating hamper deliveries or physical gifts adds unnecessary stress to the admin team. Digital gift cards can be customised and distributed within teams in minutes, with instant delivery for remote workers.

What To Look For In The Right Christmas Gift Card For Staff In Ireland?

When it comes to choosing the right Christmas gift card for staff, not all cards are created equal. Here are some critical factors you must consider:

1. Wide Retailer Selection:

Gift cards generally come in two types: open-loop and closed-loop. Closed-loop cards can only be used at a single store or brand, which limits how employees can spend their Christmas bonus. Open-loop cards, however, work anywhere the card network, like Mastercard or Visa, is accepted, giving employees complete freedom to use their gift on what matters most to them. This flexibility is exactly why open-loop cards such as CleverCards are a smarter, more versatile choice for Christmas rewards.

2. Digital and Physical Card:

Modern workforces increasingly include remote and hybrid employees, and most people now prefer digital payments over traditional card swipes. That’s why it’s important to choose a gift card solution that supports digital shopping. This ensures every employee, regardless of location or work setup, receives their Christmas bonus quickly, securely, and in the format they actually use.

3. Customisation:

Your organisation likely has employees at different levels, each receiving different Christmas bonus amounts. The right gift card solution should let you customise card values for individuals or groups without complicated processes or manual workarounds. It’s also important to choose a provider that allows you to personalise the message on each card, making the bonus feel thoughtful to every employee.

Christmas Bonus 2025: Choose The Right Card, Amount & Date

With the Christmas bonus 2025 date approaching, more companies in Ireland are moving away from taxable cash bonuses and towards digital gift cards. This is exactly where CleverCards becomes a practical and strategic choice. CleverCards offers open-loop Mastercard gift cards that employees can use at over 50 million merchants worldwide. These cards can be sent to employees online via email within seconds. You can choose to personalise each card with different amounts or send in bulk to international teams, making it effortless to manage Christmas bonuses for staff.

With a smart gift card solution, choosing your Christmas bonus for 2025 becomes simple. Pick an amount that aligns with your budget, select CleverCards' employee gift card, and schedule the bonus so employees receive it before the holidays. A thoughtful Christmas bonus ensures your team feels recognised, supported, and genuinely valued at the end of the year.

Want to learn how to get your team digital gift cards this Christmas? Fill out the form below, and our team will reach out to you.