With Christmas fast approaching I decided to write this month’s article about holidays in general. While Christmas is one of the largest celebrated holidays, you should not forget about other common festivities as well, like Thanksgiving or Halloween. For example, a small token gesture for Halloween such as letting employees dress up or bringing chocolate snacks in to the office can certainly cheer up a team. How about ordering lunch on a team meeting day for Thanksgiving and lending thanks for all the hard work your staff put in all year. Celebrate Family Day by having a
“Bring your Kids or Pets to Work” day, if your company is conducive to it and there are no safety risks.
That said, Christmas still remains the most widely celebrated holiday in organizations. There are a variety of things you can do depending on the type and size of the organization. You can have a celebratory dinner at a restaurant, you can have an office party, set up secret Santa or other type of gift exchange or maybe support a family in need or donate to a charity of choice. It does not necessarily matter what you choose to do, it will be appreciated and contribute to team building and strengthening relationships amongst coworkers. Organizations also need to be respectful of those that don’t celebrate Christmas. It is important to make the celebration of any holiday optional. Also be accommodating to those that celebrate other types of holidays such as Diwali or Hanukah.
Taking a step back a few times a year to let loose and talk about things other than work can be refreshing and contribute to a positive workplace culture. Just be cognizant of any risks in serving alcohol at events and make sure it is clear that professional behaviour is always expected even in those fun casual situations.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
Carrie Deon
Human Resources Generalist
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