Deck the (Office) Halls...
Holiday Sensitivity and Celebration in the
Workplace
In today’s multicultural
workplace environment, holiday sensitivity no
longer means simply putting a menorah next to
the Christmas tree during the holiday season.
Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, and Bodhi
Day all occur during the fall/winter, and while
world political tensions rise, religious
sensitivity issues can rise too. Employers
challenged to show fairness, employee
appreciation, and holiday spirit may be tempted
to pull the plug on holiday celebrations
altogether. However, there are ways to
celebrate the season in the workplace with
sensitivity, understanding and respect.
“Employers should strive to
ensure that all of their employees’ unique
cultural beliefs are equally represented and
celebrated during the holiday season,” said
Jennifer Loftus, SPHR, CCP, CBP, GRP, National
Director, Astron Solutions.
There are a number of religious
and cultural holidays that your employees may
observe during the season. In order to
encourage understanding of each, they are listed
here with a short description.
Christmas
- The most recognized and celebrated holiday
occurs on December 25, the day that marks Jesus
Christ’s birth. Over 3 billion Christians
worldwide celebrate the holy birth by engaging
in various customs and traditions, including
singing, gift-giving, gathering with family and
friends, and praying.
Hanukkah
- “The Festival of Lights” celebrates the
victory of the Maccabees, the rededication of
the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC, and the
miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.
During the eight nights of Hanukkah, candles are
lit in a menorah, which holds nine candles: one
for each night, plus an extra used to light the
other candles. Hanukkah is celebrated by
performing traditional songs, enjoying fried
foods, gift-giving, and praying.
Ramadan
- Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic
calendar, celebrates the first revelations given
to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims fast during
Ramadan, health permitting. They do not eat,
drink, smoke, or engage in sexual activity until
sundown each day, using the daytime to
concentrate on their faith, rather than on
everyday concerns. The fast concludes with
feasting, gift-giving, and praying.
Kwanzaa
- Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a
professor at California State University,
Kwanzaa is a cultural, rather than religious,
holiday celebrated from December 26 through
January 1 by many African-Americans. The word
Kwanzaa is Swahili for “first fruits of the
harvest” and involves gathering family and
friends to discuss and commit to seven guiding
principles. Each day, a candle is lit
signifying a principle - unity,
self-determination, collective work and
responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose,
creativity, and faith. A feast is held on
December 31 for remembering, reassessing and
rejoicing.
Bodhi Day
- Bodhi Day is usually observed December 8th or
the Sunday preceding it. It celebrates the day
of Prince Siddhartha Guatama’s realization and
presentation to his fellow seekers of the Four
Noble Truths. From that point forward, he was
referred to as the Buddha, the enlightened one.
Buddhists celebrate by stringing colored lights
representing the numerous pathways to
enlightenment, feasting on traditional foods and
greeting each other with "Budu Saranai!" which
loosely translated means, "May the serenity of
the Buddha's be yours!"
When preparing for holiday
festivities, ask your employees for input during
the planning process. Encourage them to bring
in decorations, and to share foods and holiday
traditions.
Be sensitive to any fasting,
dietary restrictions or scheduling conflicts due
to religious observance, prior to planning.
Don’t forget to offer vegetarian alternatives.
Make all holiday activities
voluntary. Not all employees may feel
comfortable celebrating, or may not be able to
join in according to religious beliefs.
Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, do not
celebrate holidays. Non-participation should
not be viewed negatively.
It is recommended that office
decorating guidelines be established ahead of
time. Singing snowmen or paper garland that
hangs precariously close to a light bulb may
prove to be more distracting, and/or dangerous,
than festive.
Remember, your organization can
be held liable for injuries that occur on your
property or at your sponsored functions. If you
are planning on serving alcoholic beverages at
your holiday party, it is wise to have
designated drivers or a shuttle service in place
prior to the festivities. In addition, Mothers
Against Drunk Driving (MADD) suggests that
employers have a cash, rather than open, bar for
alcoholic beverages, to help cut back on the
potential alcohol intake of partygoers. Also,
be sure to provide plenty of fun seasonal
drinks, such as non-alcoholic eggnog and hot
apple cider, in addition to soft drinks and
juices.
Once your plans are in place, be
sure to enjoy this time of year. Providing your
employees with the opportunity to mix and mingle
is a wonderful way to increase workplace
camaraderie. When handled with sensitivity and
respect, workplace festivities can result in an
uplifting combination of unity, cultural
understanding, and joy for your team, which is
truly a celebration of the spirit of the season.