In the spirit of workplace cultural and #psychologicalhealthandsafety, it’s important to be mindful of how holiday traditions like Secret Santa, monetary contributions, and office Christmas decoration competitions can impact all employees. For diasporan staff, who often support families both here and back home, even a small request—like contributing $10—can add stress. They may feel compelled to contribute out of conformity or fear of being misunderstood or shamed. Before organizing office holiday activities, such as decoration competitions, consider those who may not celebrate Christmas or those for whom such traditions could be culturally unsafe. To ensure inclusivity and fairness, focus on connection-building activities that don’t require financial contributions or impose specific cultural norms. While celebrating diversity is important, it’s equally crucial to center inclusion in everything we do and avoid imposing dominant traditions and values on everyone. How do you cultivate equity, inclusion and belonging in your workplace? Do you say “Merry Christmas” to everyone, making it awkward for those who don’t celebrate, or do you say “Happy Holidays” and respect the diversity of your colleagues? Let’s celebrate the holidays in ways that foster #culturalpluralism joy, unity, and #culturalsafety, without placing undue financial or emotional burdens on anyone.
Shayla S. Dube, MSW, RCSW’s Post
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🎄✨ Celebrating the Year Together: Why Workplace Holiday Cheer Matters 🎁 As the year draws to a close, it’s moments like these that remind us of the power of connection and celebration at work. Bringing a little holiday cheer to the office isn’t just about decorations or gifts—it’s about creating a space where team members feel appreciated and connected. These small acts of recognition and shared joy can have a big impact: ~ BOOSTING MORALE: Taking time to celebrate shows employees that their hard work is seen and valued. ~ STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS: Workplace celebrations foster collaboration and camaraderie, which are essential for long-term success. ~ RECHARGING FOR THE NEW YEAR: Pausing to reflect and celebrate together helps everyone enter January motivated and refreshed. Here’s to creating workplaces where joy, recognition, and connection take center stage—at the holidays and throughout the year. 🌟 How do you and your team wrap up the year? Share your traditions below! 🎉👇 #WorkplaceCulture #HolidaySeason #EmployeeEngagement
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🌍 As workplaces grow more diverse and global, it’s important to recognize the traditions, beliefs, and celebrations that might not align with our own experiences. Around the world, countless holidays and observances are deeply rooted in meaningful histories, cultures, and geographies. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce Feminuity’s 2025 Global Holidays, Observances, and Celebrations Calendar! This calendar highlights hundreds of important dates, complete with thoughtful details about each occasion. It’s designed to help your team deepen understanding, foster empathy, and build cultural awareness. While it’s not always feasible to recognize every occasion listed, the dates your organization chooses to acknowledge—whether through time off, budget allocation, or programming—can reflect the communities and values most supported. Use this calendar as a conversation starter with your team and implement the practices that align with your unique workplace culture. ✨ Download your copy today! https://lnkd.in/gKWYJEXY
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💡 Thursday Thoughts: The Return of Office Festivities With the holiday season in full swing, there’s a buzz of excitement in workplaces across the globe. For teams working from the office, this is the perfect opportunity to celebrate together, build connections, and wrap up the year on a high note. ✨ The Trend: After years of virtual or scaled-back celebrations, many organizations are bringing back in-person holiday traditions—but with a fresh twist! Think themed office parties, community outreach projects, or even team cook-offs. 🌟 A Story: One company recently shared how they transformed their office into a winter wonderland for their year-end celebration, complete with DIY decorations made by employees, a potluck lunch, and a gratitude wall. The result? A festive atmosphere that strengthened bonds and boosted morale. 🎄 A Thought: Office celebrations are more than just fun—they’re moments to reflect, connect, and appreciate the journey. Whether it’s a small team lunch or a grand celebration, the goal is to create memories that inspire and energize for the year ahead. What’s your office doing to celebrate the holidays? Let’s swap ideas and spread the cheer! #ThursdayThoughts #HolidaySeason #WorkplaceCulture #MilesEducation #Miles2Go Miles Education Varun Jain, CPA, CMA PRATISH R NAIR
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Now that the holidays are behind us let’s take a moment to reflect on how something as simple as a Holiday party can profoundly influence company culture. 🎉 Studies show that holiday parties are essential for team bonding and fostering a positive work environment. They help improve communication, strengthen relationships, and even boost productivity. More than just a festive occasion, a Christmas party is a powerful tool for building a stronger, more engaged workforce. Here’s how: 🔗 **Building Relationships:** Holiday parties allow employees to connect outside of the office, promoting camaraderie and a sense of belonging within the team. 👏 **Recognition & Appreciation:** A well-organized event can highlight employees’ hard work throughout the year, boosting morale and creating a culture of appreciation. ⚖️ **Encouraging Work-Life Balance:** The festive atmosphere allows employees to recharge, demonstrating that the company values their well-being and fosters a healthy work-life balance. 🌟 **Fostering a Positive Culture:** Celebrating the holidays together helps build unity, trust, and loyalty, improving the overall workplace culture. 🎯 **Employee Motivation:** When employees feel valued and recognized, it can increase engagement and inspire them to stay committed to the company’s success in the coming year. 🤝 **Promoting Inclusion:** A thoughtfully planned Holiday party can create an inclusive environment that embraces diverse backgrounds and builds employee respect. 🎁 **Incentivizing Participation:** Fun activities, awards, and raffles can motivate employees to get involved, creating lasting connections with the company beyond monetary incentives. Ultimately, a company Christmas party is more than just a celebration; it’s a morale booster and a reminder of the company’s appreciation for its team. It’s a simple way to create a more engaged, motivated, and loyal workforce. #CompanyCulture #EmployeeEngagement #HolidaySpirit #TeamBuilding #EmployeeAppreciation #Community
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7 Strategies For Fostering DEI During The Holidays With employees from various walks of life, the holidays can present both opportunities and challenges for fostering inclusion in the workplace. Ensuring that everyone feels respected and valued requires thoughtful planning and action. Outside of the more commonly known holidays such as Christmas, New Year’s, and Labor Day, dozens of celebrations take place every year that most likely affect a few people in your team. https://lnkd.in/gM9SnmHb
7 Strategies For Fostering DEI During The Holidays
social-www.forbes.com
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Something I've been pondering for a while: There are some unwelcoming and exclusive things I still see from some tech companies that I think they just aren't aware of. How can we get a list of lesser-talked-about DEI concerns? Examples in no particular order: - gifts of alcohol - alcohol-based environments like happy hours - team dinners before sunset at certain times of years - no alternatives to coffee but water - Christmas-associated decor being the only major decor event in the office - automatically adjusting workloads for December but not thinking about January, February, March, April, June, or October - not proactively offering various interview cycle adjustments/accommodations - automated birthday announcements - birthday PTO rather than a floating holiday - default assumption someone will have a baby shower - holiday parties in December instead of something more shared, such as January (maybe split between calendar and lunar new year dates) - thinly disguised Christmas traditions ('holiday trees' with 'yankee swaps') - meat-prioritized meals - baby photo games - implicitly mandatory childhood or family story sharing - physical team building activities without equally good alternatives - group calls where all input must be verbal and/or on the spot - lack of shared written summaries or notes for information shared verbally (including decks with no speaker notes) - no common location to give guidance on name pronunciation - required availability 8-5 rather than core hours with flexibility - back to back meetings (to be fair, I think introducing significant break/solo work times would benefit everyone!) What else? This isn't an attempt to kill fun or ruin traditions. There are a million other fun traditions that originate in a lot of minority communities of all kinds, and you can expand what you do rather than eliminate it. And you don't suck for not having thought about these before, nor for doing most of the things on the list. But I think they are things we should discuss and consider. #DEI #inclusivity #diversity #inclusiveworkplaces
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🎉 Team Bonding During the Holidays 🎉 I've always taken team bonding very seriously—especially during the holidays. Our Christmas party is a time to unwind, reflect, and strengthen the bonds that make our company culture unique. 🤝 Why is this so important for our team and business? Here’s what it means to us: 🔹 Boosts morale and motivation: The end of the year is a busy time, and celebrating our wins together helps us recharge for the challenges ahead. 🔹 Improves collaboration: Bonding outside of work strengthens teamwork and communication—key elements for delivering successful projects. 🔹 Fosters a positive culture: I believe in having fun while getting results. A strong team culture not only makes work more enjoyable but also leads to better outcomes for our clients. Celebrating as a team doesn’t just improve our work-life balance; it builds trust and collaboration. The holidays are the perfect time to reflect on the year’s growth and set the stage for continued success. How does your team bond and celebrate during the holidays? What’s your company’s favourite holiday tradition? Let’s share some ideas in the comments! I'll get back to you on Monday, as we are heading off to our Christmas party. 🎄 #TeamCulture #ChristmasParty #WorkLifeBalance #TeamBonding
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The holidays are a time to celebrate, but how can workplaces ensure everyone feels included and respected? From diverse decorations to inclusive activities, small steps can make a big difference in creating a welcoming environment for all employees. https://hubs.la/Q02ZZ8nQ0 #HolidaySeason #DiversityAndInclusion #WorkplaceCulture
[Real Life HR] How Can We Celebrate the Holidays at Work Without Excluding or Offending Anyone?
blog.ahola.com
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🎄 It’s My First Workplace Christmas – Let’s Talk Holiday Traditions! 🎄 I’m so excited to experience my first Christmas at work! 🎅✨ The holiday season is upon us, and it’s time to start brainstorming how to celebrate at the office! From fun team activities to festive treats, I’m thinking of ways to spread some cheer and create memorable moments at work. I’d love to hear how YOU and your workplace get into the holiday spirit. Whether it’s festive treats or quirky traditions, what does the holiday season look like at your office? Drop your favorite workplace holiday traditions in the comments – let’s spread the cheer! 🎉 #WorkplaceChristmas #HolidaySeason #Christmas #Celebration
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The holiday season, with its myriad of traditions, presents a special time for celebration and reflection. This period typically includes a range of festivities from various cultures and beliefs, making it a mosaic of global traditions and customs. It’s a time when the “Happy Holidays” greeting embraces all forms of observance and fosters inclusivity. Companies face the challenge of acknowledging this season in a way that respects the diversity of their workforce while still capturing the joyous spirit of the times. In the workplace, acknowledging the holiday season is essential for cultivating an inclusive environment that respects and celebrates the cultural richness of every employee. It's an opportunity for team-building and for showing appreciation for the year's collective efforts. Recognizing the holidays within a company setting can contribute to a positive workplace culture, boost morale, and provide a well-deserved break to recharge for the new year. To celebrate the holiday season in the office, here are some inclusive and easy-to-implement ideas: Engage the whole team in decorating the office, incorporating a range of holiday themes to reflect the diversity of celebrations. Organize a multicultural holiday party, encouraging the sharing of different holiday dishes and traditions. Grant time off for employees to observe their respective holidays, showing respect for their traditions and personal time. Present employees with gift cards or tokens of appreciation, a gesture to thank them for their dedication throughout the year. Introduce festive Holiday Zoom backgrounds to add a touch of cheer to virtual meetings. Encourage a spirit of fun and relaxation, ensuring the holiday season is a time of joy for everyone at the workplace.
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