Happy Advent! We're officially in the preparation for Christmas even though the retail stores would have you believe that preparation started on Nov. 1st.
This is a challenging time for human resources professionals everywhere. When I was in the corporate universe it was hard to enjoy the holidays at work. Yes, it can be annoying trying to please everyone in the office but Christians aren't the only people at work and they aren't the only ones who celebrate a holiday in December.
I think one way to manage this time of year at work is to talk with your employees and coworkers about how you'll handle the holidays as a group or how your company plans to handle them. It's a great way for you all to learn about each others beliefs and get to know each other on a deeper level. I think it's also a great opportunity to help people see that Christians can be tolerant and interested in the beliefs of others.
One thing that the holiday season has in common among those who celebrate a holiday at this time is the focus on giving to others. A way to give to others while not focusing on any one specific holiday is to get involved in a charity in your area or a national or international charity you can all agree on.
You can go to charity navigator to evaluate worthy charities and learn about some that do the kind of work you'd like to support. Maybe put names in a hat and select the one you'll support.
You could choose a charity that's not religious or is non-denominational like the community foodbank, an environmental organization or an animal support group.
No one is trying to eliminate Christmas as a holiday. But in today's modern offices we do need to recognize that other people celebrate other holidays around this time and that they're as passionate about their beliefs and special days as we Christians are of ours. This is a time for us to allow the light of Christ to radiate from us in tolerance and generousity.
How will you celebrate the holidays in your office?
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