December is often the time for celebrating holidays in the workplace. Regardless of whether employees celebrate holidays themselves at this time, it’s common for organizations to hold some sort of event.
But just because it’s a popular time for parties, that doesn’t mean it can’t cause unnecessary stress for employees, for various reasons.
And just because December is when many organizations take a break, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other times in the year when employees might benefit from time off.
So let’s explore some ideas for celebrating holidays in the workplace inclusively.
Respect every culture
When you’re in your own bubble, it can be easy to forget that not everyone celebrates the same holidays.
But with a fifth of adults feeling that they experience stress because the holiday season doesn’t reflect their culture, religion, or traditions, businesses need to consider how they can make the holiday season more welcoming.
This could be as simple as including other holidays throughout the year, in the name of balance.
You don’t always have to use the holidays to justify doing something, either. For instance, if you want to give everyone the last week of the year off, that doesn’t have to be because of Christmas. It could simply be because business slows down a bit then. So why bother having everyone in the office, or signed in to Slack?
Mind the stress
Holiday stress is all-too real. So real that work-related holiday stress continues even if businesses shut down for the holidays. In fact, 41% of employees still check their work emails and 23% still send work-related emails.
Sadly, a third also take a second job during this time, so they can’t even enjoy the break.
That’s not surprising when you realize that 89% of adults worry about money, missing loved ones, and anticipating family conflicts over the holidays, though. This makes it really hard to enjoy celebrating holidays in the workplace, or outside of it.
Simple things like paying employees fairly, providing them with upskilling opportunities, and connecting them with colleagues in ERGs can help to mitigate some of this stress.
Of course, there’s no workplace solution to family conflicts. But having understanding colleagues can go a long way towards making someone feel less stressed over the holidays.
Remember: they’re not just fun and games
Holidays aren’t fun for everyone. Yet those of us who feel low during the holidays—especially Christmas—are made out to be modern-day Scrooges.
But sometimes, the holidays remind us of a lost loved one, family conflicts, or other challenging situations. Which makes it really hard for celebrating holidays in the workplace to be all about fun and games.
Also, emotions are complex. We can continue to grieve and honor who/what we’ve lost, while also enjoying the holidays. But to enjoy them, we have to not bury those important emotions.
There’s no simple solution to this. It’s just about awareness.
Don’t force everyone to celebrate
Ugly Christmas sweaters are a divisive part of celebrating holidays in the workplace. Some people love them, others think they’re a waste of money.
Many businesses will have an ugly Christmas sweater day to raise money for charity. But not everyone feels comfortable in an unflattering, itchy, brightly colored sweater with LED lights on Rudolph’s nose.
Accept that some people will want to take part, but remember that for them to perform their best at work, they need to be comfortable. And what we wear can play a big role in that.
Consider extra time off
No one wants to be stressed out about work during the holidays. Rather than giving everyone the same time off over Christmas, why not consider giving them an extra week that they can use for a holiday of their choice?
That way, every gets the same break, your services remain up and running for the whole year, and everyone gets to celebrate holidays in the workplace, and crucially, outside of it, in whatever way they like.
Use your employee groups
If you have ERGs that recognize different cultures or religions, the holiday season is the perfect time to get them involved. Have them host celebrations for members, or even talk to other employees about what the holiday season means to them.
It’s only when we share our stories that people can truly understand them. Sharing holiday traditions can be a simple way to do just that. It’s also a core part of celebrating holidays in the workplace inclusively.
Need help managing your ERGs? The bigger and more influential groups get, the harder they can be to manage. That’s where Workrowd comes in. Keep everything you need for your employee initiatives in one place. Let employees know about holiday events or groups they could join. Get in touch today to book your free demo.
Ask the right questions
Since December is the time when everyone is switching off for the year and looking back, it could be the perfect time to send an employee feedback survey. Find out what has helped and hindered your team at work in the last 12 months. That way you can learn and improve for next year.
Sometimes, what seems inconsequential to one person will be the thing that mattered most to another. So asking the right questions will give you a strong advantage in the new year.
Workrowd can help by sending your feedback surveys automatically and analyzing the results. That gives you more time to make real changes in the workplace that improve your employee experience. And more time for celebrating holidays in the workplace all year round!
Conclusion
The holiday season can be fun, but it can also be challenging for many. A balance between enjoyment and compassion is therefore key. It’s also important to remember that not everyone celebrates the same holidays, and that diversity is part of what will bring strength to your organization—strength of creativity, innovation, and company culture.
If you’d like help supporting your diverse team to celebrate holidays in the workplace with more organized employee initiatives, get in touch today to find out how Workrowd could help.
