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Have you read your November 2007 issue of HR Magazine
yet? Be sure to check out the cover story, Incentive Pay
Fuels HR Salaries, starting on page 34. SHRM
interviewed Jennifer Loftus, National Director, regarding
trends in the Watson Wyatt / SHRM 2007 / 2008 Survey
Report on Human Resources Personnel Compensation. SHRM
tapped Jennifer’s expertise for the article through her
participation in SHRM’s Total Rewards Special Expertise
Panel. Misplaced your magazine? The article is also
available to SHRM members on the
SHRM website.
If you haven’t visited our HR blog in a while, now’s the time to pay a visit! Our marketing team has recently enhanced the site with social bookmarking features, additional links for your reference, and a blog archive. Our blog is updated daily. Be sure to visit us at
http://astronsolutionsworldofhr.blogspot.com. Please post a comment or two while you’re there!
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.
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Kickoff to the Holiday Season
The Employee Free Choice Act – What You Need to Know
If you have a topic you would like addressed in Astronology, or some feedback on a past article, don't hesitate to tell us! Simply reply to this e-mail. See your question answered, or comments addressed, in an upcoming issue of Astronology.
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Copyright 2007, Astron Solutions, LLC
ISSN Number 1549-0467
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