The Work Clinic

Steve Miller:

I do understand where you are coming from here. On the one hand it is good to lift the spirit at this time of year but on the other you are working in a business so we have to maintain a focus on getting the job done. I also have a concern that if other departments aren’t going quite so mad with the tinsel, snowmen and Christmas penguins they may begin to perceive you as a department that hasn’t got much to do other than spend time enjoying the forthcoming festivities.

The real issue for me here is one of perception. I am pleased to hear you have solid relationships with other departments but the one that concerns me most is other department heads becoming cynical that the desire to turn the HR department into a grotto is another symptom demonstrating that the HR team add little worth to the business.

Of course the other concern is where is this heading? Is the next thing going to be Christmas music playing in the HR department and the HR director dressing up as Santa Claus calling line managers into the department for mince pies and sherry? That for me would be a huge step too far.

I have no issue with departments celebrating Christmas but there are boundaries with decorations. It's like furry toys on desks. I can’t bear them and to be honest if it was left to me I would burn the lot. Perhaps mention to your HR director that you're concerned that your deparment may become the laughing stock of the business if you go too far. Next time a piece of tinsel, flaky snow, or singing Santa’s are taken out of the Christmas decoration box when no-one is looking, sneak over and hide them. Then tell the team it must be the Christmas fairies hiding them.