Catherine Quinn investigates how to strike a balance to find out how staff of all faiths can enjoy the Christmas festivities or equally how HR can make it easy and comfortable for those employees who want to opt-out of the celebrations altogether.
by Catherine Quinn:
Whether you love or hate the run up to Christmas the chances are you'll be exchanging gifts under the tree this year. So spare a thought for office workers subject to endless yuletide festivities who don't even celebrate 25 December. For staff of many religions Christmas is strictly off-bounds, which can cause the HR department concerns about promoting diversity in an office thick with decorations and mince-pies.
Speaking on behalf of The Muslim Council of Britain, Tanveer Parnuz suggests that getting staff of different religions involved is a common approach. "Most staff who we speak to would join in, and attend a Christmas dinner, or Christmas party" says Tanveer. "But HR should be aware that Christmas celebrations should be an option rather than an obligation. So they need to communicate with staff that they can opt out of the Christmas dinner if they want to. Or if a staff member feels uncomfortable going to a staff party with alcohol then that should be taken into account. Tanveer has also encountered situations where flexible employers have been able to offer holiday in lieu of Christmas day, on the basis that it is a religious celebration...
Muslims may find Christmas particularly difficult if it coincides with Ramadan, with tempting festive food making fasting all the more challenging. But those of the Islamic faith certainly aren't the only ones forgoing the mince pies. Christmas pudding is also off the menu for Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, and Hindu staff who make up some 7% of the workforce.
While some non-Christian staff are happy to get involved, HR would do well to account for the possibility that others could feel marginalised. Particularly as it's often unclear where diversity issues end and matters of personal lifestyle begin. In fact for some companies, the possibility for offence is so concerning that they have chosen to dispense with any kind of Christmas celebration, opting to tread the safest ground.
As with many staff issues, the key seems to be striking a balance between including staff of all faiths in the celebrations, and making opt-out options readily accessible. With peace and goodwill in the air, it might even be a good time for HR staff to consider factoring in a few days for Diwali, Eid, Hanukah, and all the rest. All those extra festivities would certainly make most of us well-disposed to issues of diversity at work.
Top tips
• Make sure it's not just HR staff who are aware of other faiths at Christmas time. Other staff should be educated as to the various religions in their midst.
• Ensure that staff of all faiths have equal opportunity to take paid leave on important religious holidays.
• Several religious festivals fall in December, so adopting the American policy of "Happy Holidays" rather than "Happy Christmas" can help everyone feel included.
• If your company lays on a staff Christmas dinner, consider some alternative perks for those who may not want to attend.
• Don't forget to have fun. Most HR staff enjoy planning for the festive period, and an awareness of diversity issues doesn't preclude that.
Comments (1)
Posted by Steve Miller | December 7, 2007 1:19 PM
The tips highlighted here are sound and HR can play its part in ensuring that opt outs and in are offered with respect to festive celebrations. I fully support that as we should always respect individual difference.
I am all for offering people the opportunity to celebrate the festivities of all faiths. We have to integrate all faiths but without making celebration compulsory.
Nevertheless we have to remember that the UK is a Christian country and lets not lose sight of that. I do become annoyed when I hear that some organisations place a stupid ban on putting up Christmas decorations because of cultural sensitivity. This political correct shower don't realise that this causes more problems than it does in aiding faith integration.
Let's offer celebration for all faiths, respect them and appreciate difference without going overboard.
Posted on December 7, 2007 13:19