How to Make the Holidays More Inclusive for Your Employees

The following is an excerpt from my FREE Workplace Intelligence Insider Newsletter. You can access the full article in the Newsletter Archives. And don't forget to subscribe so you receive the new edition every Monday morning. 

I think we’re all used to seeing a greater focus on Christmas (versus other holidays) this time of the year, and in some ways this makes sense. After all, the weeks leading up to Christmas are the most important time of the year for U.S. retailers, and 93% of Americans celebrate Christmas, including people who aren’t religious.

In the workplace, however, I think there’s a real need for companies to be more inclusive in their holiday celebrations and policies. And this inclusivity should extend beyond just the religious aspect of the season, although that’s certainly a key consideration. In fact, your team members could be feeling left out during this time of the year for a number of reasons. Here are a few questions to think about:

• Does your company celebrate holidays beyond just Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa?
• For holiday events, parties, and gift-giving, does your company respect people’s preferences around alcohol consumption and their dietary requirements?
• Are your holiday events equally inclusive of in-office employees and remote team members?
• Do you offer ways to celebrate for those who don’t wish to attend an office party?

I know this is a lot to consider, but remember, being inclusive isn’t just the right thing to do — there are real business benefits to making people feel that their preferences matter, and that their unique cultural backgrounds are welcomed and celebrated. For example, Gartner found that inclusive teams can improve team performance by up to 30% in high-diversity environments. An inclusive culture also helps to create an environment where employee engagement, collaboration, and innovation can thrive.  

Perhaps most importantly, companies that prioritize inclusion are more likely to attract and retain high-quality employees. In fact, one of the top priorities that today’s workers look for in an employer is their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). And while there’s much more to DE&I than promoting an inclusive holiday season, paying attention to people’s needs during this time of the year can play a key role in shaping their overall experience at your organization.

With that in mind, it might make sense to step back and think about what your company could do differently this year, to turn the holiday season into a more inclusive and positive experience for all. In today’s article, I’ll provide a few ideas to help you get started.

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