Hey y’all – it’s Erin here, and I’m talking about the importance of having empathy for different holiday celebrations.
Though our culture is dominated by Christian celebrations, it is vital to remember that a variety of celebrations exist. Especially at this time of year, when Christmas takes up so much room. Getting caught up in our own holiday traditions and events is only natural. But if we truly want to build inclusive work cultures, we need to ensure that everyone’s holiday celebrations are recognized.
We have a couple tips for how you can do this at your office.
- Learn what different traditions and observances are important to your folks – send a survey, visit everyone’s desk, etc.
- Make time and space to recognize those events in a way that is respectful and approved by your employees.
- Take this opportunity to educate other staff members, who might not have experience with these traditions.
But, having empathy for different holiday celebrations also means recognizing that holiday seasons can be hard for folks. Maybe they lost a loved one near Christmas? Maybe they aren’t close with their family, and Hannukah is extra hard.
Different people celebrate different holidays, they celebrate those holidays differently, and they also might not celebrate at all.
The key to building an inclusive culture lies in asking more questions about the people you work with, and making less assumptions about how they spend the holidays.
We hope whatever this season means for you, you find time for rest, joy, and reconnection.
Learn more about our holiday tips by checking out our blog: https://abbey-research.com/blog/
