12/ 12/ 2007
December is usually a flurry of festivities, with various holidays being celebrated around the country. It's fun to celebrate the season at the workplace, too, though it's important to be mindful of each employee's individual custom. Your employees may not all celebrate the same holiday—and some people might not celebrate any at all—and you don't want to offend or exclude any of them by assuming they do. To ensure you and your employees can all enjoy the holiday season together, keep the following tips in mind when planning your small business' celebrations.
Time to party: Don't assume all of your employees celebrate Christmas by calling your annual office get-together a Christmas party. Instead, invite employees to a "holiday party" or a "winter gathering" so those who don't celebrate Christmas won't feel unwelcome or uncomfortable, possibly choosing not to participate at all. Office parties are a time to build unity, and ignoring someone's cultural or religious beliefs will only drive a wedge in your team.
Decking the halls: The winter holidays are fun to decorate for, but remember to keep in mind everyone's beliefs. Instead of setting up a huge manger scene or blanketing your whole office with plastic reindeer, consider letting employees decorate their own areas to their personal taste—and allow them to opt out of decorating as well. Or, a general winter theme with snowflakes, snowmen or icicles can look nice and still evoke holiday memories. But if you're absolutely set on an office Christmas tree, offer each employee the opportunity to add an ornament to it that represents his or her specific beliefs.
Spreading cheer: If you send out holiday cards on behalf of your business, consider sending ones with a "Happy Holidays" or "Warm Winter Wishes" message rather than "Merry Christmas." Unless you know that your recipients celebrate Christmas, you risk alienating customers, clients and other business associates—no matter how well-intended the card was.
No matter what custom you celebrate, the holidays generally represent a time of togetherness. If you're unsure of your employees' holiday customs, just ask. Taking the time to get to know them better—and showing respect if their holiday celebrations are different than yours—is a great way to get to a happy New Year.
