Instead of watching ubiquitous imitations of Gangnam Style at another year-end party, staff at Linksus Marketing were given something new.

Each got a big candylike gift, with 888 yuan ($143) in cash, chocolate and a thank you letter from their president Tan Ming - minus the party.

"The innovative idea tends to give each staff member what they like most so that they can deal with 'the candy' at their will. They are very happy about it," says Cui Liguang, brand manager of the company.