Holiday party HR questions, featuring Bent Ericksen & Associates * go to www.dentistryiq.com for full article
Question 2: As a multicultural office, we find it difficult to celebrate the holidays. We want to have an event in which we can all get together and celebrate, but we don’t want to be disrespectful to any employee’s beliefs. What’s the best way to handle this?
Answer: In our ever-growing diverse nation this is becoming a concern for most employers. The best way to avoid allegations of discrimination is to refrain from using religious descriptions or decorations that represent a particular belief. For example, call the celebration a “holiday party†or “a celebration of seasons†rather than a Christmas party. If your main intention for the party is to reward employees for their hard work throughout the year, you may also want to consider celebrating during a different time of the year. Sponsoring events such as a summer BBQ or a day at an amusement park, for example, are great ways to show employee appreciation while avoiding any religious connotations