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We’ve been told there will be no end of the year bonuses. Since the Christmas gift I give to my two assistants, who both have young families, is a check to help them with their Christmas expenses I am in a quandary as to what to do, because I’m not getting a bonus. I don’t know whether they are expecting a check from me, since they know about the cutbacks. They each deserve a bonus and I’m happy to give them each a check, but I would be setting up a precedent. What’s your advice?

–HG, Boston

About employer-employee relationships when the company is cutting back.

The sooner you tell your assistants that you won’t be able to give them a check this year because of the cutbacks, the less likely they’ll be angry at you.

• Waiting until the last minute will only spoil those last tidings of joy they had already bought for their spouse and child.

Ask them what their favorite store is and say you’ll be giving them both gift certificates from a store of their choice.

• The amount of which make half of what you gave them in cash previously, but you needn’t tell them that.

Next year, if the year-end bonus isn’t reinstated, the gift certificate can be half the amount as this year.

Your assistants will understand that everybody is trying to carry on — the best they can — with Yuletide good cheer.

~Didi