5 Tips for HR During the Holiday Season

It’s the holiday season, also a season for some HR and compliance issues. Here are five (5) holiday HR issues that you should be aware of.

1. Holiday decorations

The seasonal decorations tend to appear in the workplace and employees’ workspace this time of the year. What your boss allows in terms of decorations in the office is up to them, however they should not discriminate and practice consistent and reasonable policies.

You need to be extra careful with religious decorations, as refusal to accommodate and employee who wants to display a religious or cultural holiday symbol to commemorate a holiday should be considered very carefully.

Holiday decorations should not be avoided just because someone objects to them, but organisations should ensure that all holiday decoration displays are reasonable and non-disruptive.

2. Inappropriate behaviour and misconduct / gift giving

The holiday season is a more lighthearted and casual time in the workplace, but this also means that professional boundaries are more likely to be crossed.

What you should do:

• Review appropriate professional conduct at workplace events.

• Do not create situations that lead employees to behave poorly. For example, no alcohol consumption.

• Discuss your company’s gift-giving practices and inform employees that gifts must be workplace appropriate.

3. Employees misusing company time

It’s the season of low productivity, attendance and tardiness. Some employee will come in later, leave early or maybe shop online at work. They will probably engage in other misuses of company time.

Remind your employees about:

• Attendance

• Key Performance Index (KPI)

• Policies and practices

At this time of the year you can also consider:

• Flexible work arrangements

• Provide time off around the holidays

These are useful in reducing these types of problems.

4. Mandatory attendance at holiday parties

Some companies prefer to hold holiday parties and sometimes these parties are mandatory for all employees. But not everyone is comfortable with that idea.

You should allow employees to have a choice whether or not they attend, especially if it’s after working hours. Some employees will not be interested and that’s okay, provided that it does not serve a business purpose.

Do not penalise employees for not attending the holiday party.

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Source: Tis the Season for 5 Holiday HR Issues