Guide on Whether a Boss or Superior Should Give Ang Bao to Staff Members During CNY

Last Updated on 2022-01-10 , 3:48 pm

If you’re a boss or a superior, should you give an ang bao to your staff?

I mean, the company isn’t doing that well, what with Covid-19 and all, so reducing expenses is a better choice for everyone, right?

Well, don’t worry if you’re hesitating because it’s likely that you’re not alone.

For all the bosses out there who can’t afford to spend as lavishly as the years before, here’s the answer to whether you should give an ang bao to your staff or not this year.

Do Many Bosses Give Ang Bao To Staff?

Among the many different red packet beliefs is one that applies to the workplace: the Start-work-Ang-Pao  (开工红包).

Typically given on the first workday, it serves as motivation for the staff and is believed to bring good luck to both the company and the staff.

According to a 2017 survey, giving red packets (or ang baos) to staff is “one of the top” CNY traditions practised by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Business owners view the practice as “a gesture of gratitude and appreciation” to their staff for their hard work over the past year.

It’s not just Asians, either, as expats working in Singapore has conformed to the practice of giving ang baos over the years.

Some bosses also like to prepare a specific number of Ang Paos. In other words, the early birds that come back to work the day after CNY will receive Ang Paos.

It’s About Symbolism

I know what you’re thinking: how much do I have to give?

On this front, I have good news for you.

The red packet given to employees during CNY is mainly symbolism, more than anything else.

This means that you can choose the amount you wish to give, whether it be $4 or $88, as long as it’s in even numbers.

After all, it’s pretty much a given that your company is likely going through a tough period (unless you’re Sheng Siong) and they’re happy enough to still have a job.

According to one of our writers, one of his friends got an $88 ang bao while another, working in another company, received $2.

Don’t be sore if you get a low amount, it’s literally the thought that counts, at least for this year.

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So Should You Give Ang Baos To Your Employees?

The answer we have for you is: it’s up to you.

Traditionally, ang bao-giving was reserved for married couples to give to their younger family members.

Today, giving ang baos has been extended to include people who want to show gratitude, love, care and appreciation.

So if you want to express your gratitude and appreciation to your staff for sticking by you during the tough times, an ang bao might just be what you need to show your appreciation.

That and, maybe, an office lunch, which is another top choice by SMEs during CNY, according to the aforementioned 2017 survey.

Other Ang Bao ‘Rules’ You Need To Know If You’re Giving Ang Baos

So, let’s say you decide to give ang baos out to your employees, now what?

Well, since you’ve decided to do it, might as well do a good job, right?

Here are several rules that you might want to follow when you’re giving out your ang baos as a boss.

Give Ang Baos in Even Numbers

If you have been paying attention to the money inside your Ang Paos, you would realize that the money inside usually ends with an even digit. ($8, $10, $20 etc) Well, if you think about it, you don’t see people giving out $11 Ang Paos right?

Convenience aside, such practices are also deeply rooted in Chinese beliefs.

Most people think that Ang Paos should be given in even numbers due the general association of even numbers with happiness and prosperity (Eg: 成双成对，双喜临门)

Giving Ang Baos To Older Singles

Technically, as long as you are still single, you can still receive Ang Paos. However, most of the time we try not to give Ang Paos to those who are old and single because we don’t want to embarrass them in front of others.

Similarly, when you’re passing out your ang bao to a subordinate you know isn’t married even though he’s 45 years old, don’t comment about his lack of a partner in front of everyone else.

He has enough of that during his Chinese New Year family gatherings.

The Ang Bao Amount

Generally, there are no hard rules about how much money you have to give per red packet.

I repeat, you can decide how much you can comfortably give.

As long as you avoid the number ‘4’ (which sounds like death in Mandarin), you’re good to go.

Eight is a good number because it’s believed to be auspicious, symbolising prosperity and fortune for the upcoming year.

New Notes

As you can probably tell by now, CNY is all about the “new” stuff.

New clothes, new do-over (read: spring clean) for your home, you get it.

And the same applies to red packets.

The new and crispier your notes in the ang bao are, the better.

Of course, just be prepared to scoured all around Singapore for new notes because, let me tell you, the competition is stiff.

So all in all, giving ang bao is a gesture of goodwill and there isn’t really any hard rules to follow.

Most importantly, give what you’re comfortable with and remember to always give (or receive) the ang pows with two hands.

Watch this video to the end to know more about ang pows (and please subscribe to our YouTube channel for more informative videos!):

Featured Image: ThamKC / Shutterstock.com