How businesses can celebrate the holiday season for all beliefs
It’s that time of year again, as employees up and down the country prepare to dust off their best Christmas jumpers and silly hats for a month of festivities and fun.
But for employers, Christmas can feel like a minefield to navigate. While getting into the festive spirit and bringing everyone together to celebrate the end of the year can be a great way to boost team morale, leaders also need to be mindful that there will be employees who do not celebrate Christmas.
Some businesses may worry that by going all out and celebrating this time of year, employees who are unable to join in will feel excluded and this could have a negative impact on employee engagement.
However, businesses shouldn’t feel they have to shy away from acknowledging Christmas altogether – celebrations in the office can be a very welcome break from the daily routine of work and give employees a chance to build rapport with others. The key is to invest the time and energy into marking the month with events and activities that ensure all employees feel included.
Listen to your employees
Workplace celebrations should be planned well in advance and importantly, with the input of employees. Leaders shouldn’t be afraid of calling upon their staff for suggestions, gathering general consensus on different ideas and asking for feedback on previous years’ celebrations to ensure they have a really clear understanding of what works and what needs to change.
If all employees, regardless of their religious beliefs, are involved in deciding how the organisation should celebrate, they are more likely to feel that their needs and opinions are valued by their employer. For their part, leaders can ensure they’re investing in and designing celebrations that will actually add value.
It’s fair to say Christmas parties and Secret Santa have become a rite of passage for many organisations and these can be a great chance to bring everyone together, helping employees to let their hair down after a hard year’s work. One survey found that 69% of employees said the Christmas party helps them to bond and build relationships with colleagues, while 65% say they enjoy attending their annual Christmas work do.
However, it’s important that businesses consider that these celebrations may not appeal to all employees. When we think of the ‘Office Christmas party’ we often think of a drunken affair, but there are lots of alternatives for employees who may not drink alcohol. Meals out with soft drinks available or daytime events such as a murder mystery party or a Bakeathon can be a great way to celebrate the end of the year in a way that is considerate of different beliefs.
Crucially, employees should not feel obliged to take part in any of the celebrations if they don’t wish to and it should be made clear that they won’t be judged or treated differently for choosing not to be involved. Events should be clearly communicated well in advance so that employees understand what they will entail and have a choice whether to participate.
It’s also worth checking an interfaith calendar to ensure that any celebrations do not clash with those from other faiths, with the Jewish festival of Hanukkah often occurring in November or December.
Recognition and reward
December doesn’t need to be all about celebrating Christmas, it can also be a really great opportunity for businesses to acknowledge and reward their employees’ hard work over the past 12 months. Research has found that while Christmas celebrations were the most likely perks to be offered to employees, workers actually valued flexible hours or early finishes (60%) the most, followed by a relaxed dress code (34%) and team outings/ lunches (33%).
Celebrations shouldn’t simply be a box-ticking ritual to round off the year, but reflective of the company’s culture and values. It’s well known that employee recognition and reward is a cornerstone of effective people management and when people feel that their hard work has been appreciated it can work wonders for motivation and productivity.
There are lots of different ways to say thank you – whether that’s through offering flexible hours, early finishes, gift cards or providing extra holiday allowance – and they can be very effective at ensuring all employees feel valued at this time of year.
Of course, making sure everyone feels included shouldn’t be limited to Christmas; inclusion should be intrinsic to the company culture all year round. One way to do this is to embrace the different cultures and religions of the workforce, ensuring that different religious days are noted and employees are given annual leave to celebrate their own religious festivities, being careful not to schedule work events during those dates.
One study in the US found that the majority of Fortune 100 companies fail to include religious diversity as part of their diversity efforts, but estimates suggest that the world will have 2.3 billion more religiously affiliated people by 2050. This means workplaces are only set to become more religiously diverse.
Creating awareness around other religions and encouraging employees to learn about and celebrate different traditions not only helps colleagues to better understand and connect with each other, but also makes the workplace a more interesting, inclusive and enriching environment.
Every business has a responsibility and moral duty to ensure that all employees, regardless of their beliefs, feel safe, supported and welcomed. Organisations that work hard to create cultures where different religions, experiences and perspectives are embraced will reap the rewards of a happier and more engaged workforce all year round.