TIPS FOR INCLUDING THE FAMILY DURING THE HOLIDAY
SEASON
by Kirsten Ross, SPHR
The
holiday season is a great time to incorporate family activities into the
workplace and working towards that “family friendly” environment.Allowing employees to bring children and spouses in to share time
together will build employee morale and can help create a more bonded workforce.It is also a time to share the diversity of cultures.December is a month rich in it’s variety of holidays and,
thus, fun activities.
Now
is the time to start planning.Have
a potluck and ask employees to bring in dishes that their families share during
their holiday celebrations.Encourage
people to volunteer to discuss the activities that they share during this time.Plan activities that are fun for children of all ages around the
different holidays. The internet is a rich source of information on the many
holidays.You can also find many
fun low or no cost activities.
Here
is a list of some of the December holidays with a brief definition.
Chanukah,
the Festival of Lights, is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabees and the
rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. It also commemorates the miracle of the
oil that burned for 8 days.
Christmas is a time for Families, Fun, and Festivities! A time of
family gatherings and holiday meals. A time for Santa, stars, and singing
carolers. A time for ornaments, gifts, and twinkling lights. Of sleigh rides,
hot cocoa, and gingerbread cookies
Winter
Solstice,
also known as Yule, Christmas, and Saturnalia, occurs in mid December. It is
celebrate the birth of the new Solar year and the beginning of winter. The
Goddess manifests as the Great Mother and the God as the Sun Child. The God also
appears as Santa Claus and Old Man Winter. Colors are Red, Green, and White.
This is a festival of inner renewal. From: http://www.keltisches-kulturinstitut.de/festeeng.htm
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It is during
this month that Muslims observe the Fast of Ramadan. Lasting for the entire
month, Muslims fast during the daylight hours and in the evening eat small meals
and visit with friends and family. It is a time of worship and contemplation. A
time to strengthen family and community ties.From: http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/
Kwanzaa
is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family,
community and culture. Celebrated from December 26th thru January 1st, its
origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa. Kwanzaa builds on
the five fundamental activities of Continental African "first fruit"
celebrations: ingathering; reverence; commemoration; and recommitment.
Tips
ýUse the holiday activities as a way of enhancing respect for
differing family traditions.Stress
common themes to help employees and their families connect with one another.It is often through this kind of sharing that we learn that are have more
in common than we thought.
ýMake sure not to stereotype.Not all members of an ethnic background observe the same holidays.And there may be vast differences in family tradition.So, ask only for volunteers to share “family holiday traditions.”Don’t single anyone out asking for participation to cover a specific
holiday.
ýMake sure that participation in the event as a whole is not
mandatory.Some religions teach
that celebrating holidays or birthdays is wrong.
Kirsten Ross is mother of two sons and is
a Certified Human Resource Professional (SPHR) dedicated to helping women
achieve more life balance and to transforming the design of work.
Visit Womans-Work.com at http://www.womans-work.com
to search our revolutionary flexible work job board featuring more than 35,000
fresh work from home, part time, job share, flex time and telecommuting
opportunities, search for a job share partner or
read valuable career, life balance and family articles. You may also email
her at mailto:KRoss@Womans-Work.com
