As the festive season is upon us, here are a few of the most common festive HR challenges along with tips on how to avoid them, or deal with the fallout.
Secret Santa spoilers:
Secret Santa is a fun way to get in the Christmas spirit, but needs to be managed carefully. From people feeling excluded to inappropriate gifts being given, there is plenty that can and does go wrong.
Whoever is organising it should ensure that everyone has an opportunity to take part, even if they do not celebrate Christmas; and equally that it is fine for them to opt out of it. It is sensible to set a budget, taking into account that money may be tight at this time of year, even if people suffer in silence. Remind people to be respectful of boundaries with their gifts; what one person considers funny may be hurtful to someone else.
Red weather warning:
While red is a colour often associated with Christmas, it was also the colour of the rare weather warning this month in response to Storm Darragh. It was the fourth named storm of the season (by the Irish, UK and Dutch meteorological offices), and between them they have caused widespread disruption, damage and even loss of life.
Flooding, high winds and perhaps snow later in the year all create dangerous travel conditions, or make some routes impossible. Make clear to staff that you still expect them to attend work where it is safe/possible to do so. But have contingencies in place to manage scenarios where they cannot get in.
The Christmas party:
Talking of the Christmas party… that is a whole blog’s worth of content in itself, and indeed we published this last week. You can read it here. Set expectations in advance (it is an extension of the workplace), have fun and have a “responsible adult” on the night to keep an eye on everyone’s behaviour.
Despite all the challenges, we are sure you and your team will find plenty of opportunity to have fun this December. And if you have an HR problem you can’t deal with on your own, please get in touch –
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