Eggnog, Holiday Party Horrors & Compensation Trends ?

Hopefully today marks your last busy day of work for a week or so. Jingle bells are ringing in the distance and a glass of eggnog is calling your name... (is eggnog even good?)

You deserve some rest and relaxation this holiday season. Way to slay 2024 and enjoy this year's last edition of HR Heroes Hub!

A walk down memory lane...

This year has been nothing short of action-packed. Over the past eleven months, the Green Status Effect has been on full display as companies and employees navigated new return-to-office (RTO) policies, we saw employee happiness rebound after a period of uncertainty, and turnover hit a 3-year low, signaling more workforce stability.?

And if you missed it, we’re still buzzing from our 2024 Year in Review. The sheer scope of what our customers accomplished this year is jaw-dropping. ?? Here’s a look at some standout stats:

• 37,938,761 candidate applications processed
• 1,390,395 goals created
• 2.57 million open enrollments
• ...and a partridge in a pear tree (We couldn’t resist. ??)

Holiday office party horror stories! ??

Holiday parties. You love them. You dread them. Here are some stories from office parties gone wrong that make even Michael Scott look good.

"We had a drawing at our holiday party. It was really hyped up. The prizes were things like pens and toilet paper rolls."

"We were at a really nice restaurant with the expectation that our company was paying for the meal. At the end of dinner, it went silent when the waiter asked how we'd be handling the check. Our manager disappeared to the bathroom and we all just ended up paying for our own meals. #awkward"

"I once went to a holiday party and the drinks were flowing. One of the reception staff got into a fist fight with another reception staff member and had to be pulled off."

Here's to hoping your parties turned out better than these this year! ??

Feel like you deserve a pay raise?

Well, you're not alone. Our 2025 Compensation Trends Report shows that 73% of employees feel they deserve a pay increase for their current responsibilities, but 27% wouldn’t want it if it came with more work.

A few other standout stats from the report...

• 50% of employees say they’re struggling to make ends meet due to rising costs.
• 61% of Americans say executives and leadership don't understand the financial struggles of employees.
• 64% of men received a salary increase this past year, compared to 55% of women.

Get ready for what’s ahead in the world of compensation. Check out the full 2025 Compensation Trends Report here.

Don't sleep on Chicago for the holidays! ??

It's no secret that NYC is a top destination spot for those seeking holiday cheer... but maybe skip Rockefeller center next year and head for Chicago instead? Bambooligan Steven Hayman has the scoop from his recent "Paid Paid" vacation on all the festive fun available in the windy city.

Top thing to do: Wander around and enjoy the Christmas lights and the architecture!

Best thing you ate: High tea at the Langham hotel. ?

Know before you go: Having a car is not necessary, use Uber + public transit.

Let's circle back next year.

We are so thankful for our BambooHR community. 2025 is going to be a banger. See you next year! ??