How to Create an Inclusive Work Environment During the Holidays
Everyone, no matter race or religion, welcomes the joyous spirit that arises during the holidays. While this holiday season may look slightly different because of the pandemic, family gatherings, holiday parties, and meetups online are the next best ways to carry on the tradition.
That being said, there are numerous ways employers can work to establish a more inclusive work culture during this time. From changing our language to mindfulness of all other religions and cultures, embracing diverse holidays will only add to the holiday spirit within the company.
Why Saying ‘Happy Holidays’ is More Inclusive
Generally, in Western culture, the end of the year holiday season is synonymous with Christmas. Displays of Christmas trees, stockings, ringing bells, and hearing “Merry Christmas” from strangers is fairly standard. However, Christmas is not celebrated by everyone.
Many people forget that this holiday is a Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God. As such, individuals of different religions don’t celebrate Christmas. Did you know that there are more than 20 holidays and festivities that fall between the months of November to the beginning of January, celebrated by non-Christians around the world? They just don’t receive the same recognition in Western Culture.
To establish a welcoming and inclusive workspace, employers should address the celebration of all religious and cultural holidays. That’s why saying ‘Happy Holidays’ is more inclusive than saying ‘Merry Christmas.’ ‘Happy Holidays’ is a more general phrase that not only spreads the holiday spirit but acknowledges the many other holidays that are celebrated by different religions and cultures alongside Christmas.
A Short List of Holidays
As mentioned before, there are over 20 holidays besides Christmas that are celebrated by people of different religions and cultures this season. While not every holiday can be covered below, here’s a small list of holidays that are also being celebrated.
Hanukkah: A Jewish holiday that acknowledges the purification of the Jewish Temple when the Jews defeated the Greek Syrians back in 165 BC.
Yalda (also known as Shab-e-Yalda): A winter solstice holiday generally celebrated in Persia and Iran. It celebrates the victory of light over darkness, among other things.
Bodhi Day: A holiday celebrated by Buddhists. This day celebrates the awakening of Buddha and enlightenment.
Kwanzaa: Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American history, culture and unity. While it is not an official religious holiday, it is a six-day celebration that falls between December 26 and January 1, that involves gift-giving and a big feast.
This list is a small fraction of the holidays celebrated during these months. For a comprehensive list of holidays and the meaning behind them, Livelearn.ca and Stacker.com go much more into detail.
What Employers can do During the Holiday Season
Employers play a large role in developing an inclusive environment in the company. When you read the list below, don’t feel discouraged if you’ve never participated in these activities before. There’s no better time to start than now.
1. Have an Interfaith Calendar
The creation and display of an interfaith calendar ensures that you won’t miss the holidays your employees celebrate. By acknowledging the diversity of religions and cultures within your company, you’re paying respects to those who work with you.
Consider offering floating holidays to your employees. A floating holiday will allow workers to take a paid day off to celebrate a religious or cultural practice that isn’t a part of the standard holiday calendar.
2. Appreciate Diversity Among Your Employees
When you send out a holiday greeting, make sure it addresses the holidays your employee may celebrate. Additionally, if an employee wants to share traditional foods or stories of their cultural or religious celebrations with co-workers, acknowledge and appreciate these initiatives.
3. Host Inclusive Holiday Parties
While you may be tempted to throw an entirely Christmas-themed work party, make sure you’re mindful of others who celebrate other holidays. Take into account everyone’s diet restrictions, and if possible, include decorations from the holidays that your employees celebrate. Additionally, it’s important to host these parties at a time that doesn’t interfere with the celebrations of other holidays. This shows your colleagues that you appreciate their time.
As such, don’t make these work holiday parties mandatory. For example, Jehovah Witness’s don’t celebrate Christmas and should not feel pressured into attending.
4. Conduct Surveys
If you’re unsure about how to go about this, ask. Hold open conversations and create surveys to figure out what your employees want during the holiday season. Then, make the changes accordingly.
The holidays are a special time for everyone, no matter what they’re celebrating. Taking the time and effort to acknowledge the many celebrations of your employees will introduce a more positive and hence inclusive workspace, creating a greater sense of belonging. Given the tumultuous year that 2020 has been for many, ending the year with immediate family, delicious food and zoom call holiday parties are needed by everyone. With that being said, stay safe and have a happy holiday, everyone!
“Until we are ready to think inclusive, everybody loses.”
To our many clients and supporters, we are on this journey with you. The road to addressing equity, diversity, and belonging may be long, but you do not have to walk it alone.
The blog is curated by Colleen James, Principal and Founder of Divonify Incorporated. Colleen’s work is centered around the dismantling of oppressive systems by working with organizational leaders to address issues of systemic racism, equity, diversity and inclusion. If you enjoyed this blog, please share with others you feel would gain value from it.