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Diversity During the Holidays - What Are Your Winter Traditions?

By Lila Kelly

During the months of November, December, and January there are many important religious holidays celebrated by people in the U.S. There are Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Solstice... and, of course, Christmas. To create a welcoming and inclusive work environment for all employees and customers, many organizations have been exploring different ways to celebrate the holidays in a more inclusive way.

One organization has a Winter Traditions gathering and invites all employees to share what their winter traditions are, which are then printed up, displayed, and discussed during the gathering. Some work places have had employees bring food dishes from their different cultural backgrounds to be shared. Also, descriptions of the different religious holidays that are celebrated have been printed and displayed in a hallway or break room.

For organizations that value diversity and want to create a workplace culture in which all employees and customers feel welcomed and valued, instead of feeling excluded, they must remember that there are a variety of religious beliefs, cultural traditions, and customs that are celebrated during the holiday season. When major changes are made in a work place, i.e. moving away from Christmas decorations and Christmas music, it is critical that management communicates a clear message about why this change is happening and the importance of it.

One way this has been communicated is in a statement from management about how each employee has a personal responsibility to respect the diversity of their co-workers and customers and to remember that not everyone observes the same traditions. In some workplaces, employees are allowed to decorate their personal workspaces as they like, and employees are encouraged to discuss the different customs and symbols with each other as a way of sharing their diversity. Many organizations that serve the public no longer display religious symbols in public spaces. Now we may see a festive winter scene with glass snow people and sparkling snowflakes instead (at least here in the upper midwest!).

Throughout the year, people observe a variety of traditions and holidays. For a comprehensive list of the year's holidays, go to www.lilakelly.com, click on the Articles tab and scroll down to the last article.

What are your winter traditions? Whatever holidays you celebrate during the year, I hope that these times bring joy and peace to you and your loved ones.

Festive Solstice ~ Holy Hannukah ~ Reflective Ramadan ~ Happy Kwanzaa ~ Merry Christmas ~ Season's greetings ~ Happy Holidays!

Copyright © 2007, Lila Kelly Associates. Diversity and Hiring Strategies - Since 1992. Diversity in Employment Interviewing training and books. Consulting services on diversity assessment and action planning, centralizing recruiting efforts, and structured recruiting and hiring strategies. Contact Lila Kelly. Used with permission from the author.

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