“What are your plans for the holidays?”
We’ll probably hear that question quite a bit over the next few months. Some colleagues will talk about family gatherings or a trip they’ve been planning. Others will be working, celebrating different holidays, or looking forward to a quiet few days at home.
It’s a friendly question, and the answers can tell us something about the people we work with. They can also remind us how easily we assume everyone experiences this time of year the way we do. As we plan celebrations and finish another year together, a little consideration can go a long way.
Key Points:
- Colleagues celebrate differently, so avoid assuming everyone shares your holiday plans.
- Invite people to share their traditions, but let them choose how much.
- If someone declines an event, accept it warmly and keep including them.
- Check who can attend: shift workers and remote colleagues may need another time or format.
- Keep gifts optional, label food, offer non-alcoholic drinks, and choose a neutral venue.
How to Invite Colleagues to Share Their Holiday Traditions?
Our colleagues have different religious beliefs, cultural backgrounds, and family traditions. Some celebrate several holidays during this season. Others celebrate at different times of the year or don’t observe holidays at all. Getting to know those traditions can be one of the enjoyable parts of working with people whose experiences differ from our own.
Someone might bring in a favorite dish or tell us about a celebration we’ve never heard of. Let them decide how much they want to share. A colleague may enjoy talking about their traditions, but being asked to explain an entire faith or culture can put them in an awkward position. An open invitation gives them the choice.
Read more: Empathy in the Workplace as the Cornerstone of DEI
How to Respond When a Colleague Declines a Holiday Event?
The end of the year can bring mixed feelings. A colleague might be spending their first holiday season after a loss, missing family abroad, or worrying about expenses. We usually won’t know unless they choose to tell us. Someone who declines a gathering or skips a gift exchange may have reasons they’d rather keep private.
Accepting their answer warmly, without pressing for an explanation, makes it easier for them to feel comfortable around the team. Keep talking to them. Include them in the next conversation. One declined invitation tells us very little about how someone feels about their colleagues.
Planning Around Shifts and Remote Work So Everyone Can Join
Healthcare teams work throughout the holidays. Some of our colleagues will be supporting providers and patients while others have time off. That matters when we plan something for the team. A daytime gathering may be difficult for someone coming off a night shift. A remote colleague may have no way to join.
Before settling on a time or format, ask who will be able to participate. Depending on the team, another time to connect or a remote option could help. And for those covering shifts, a personal thank-you is worth making time for.
Read more: Positive and Negative Workplace Culture in Healthcare: How to Improve It?
Holiday Party Checklist: Gifts, Food, Drinks, and Venue
If you’re helping organize a celebration this quarter:
- Ask for preferences before making plans, and give people a way to respond privately.
- Keep gift exchanges optional and spending expectations modest.
- Ask about dietary needs and clearly label the food.
- Include appealing drinks without alcohol.
- Make attendance optional, with the same friendly response whether someone accepts or declines.
- Avoid having celebrations at your home. Try to find a neutral place to hold the gathering.
These are manageable choices. They deserve a few minutes of thought before invitations go out.
The takeaway
For our teams at HealthChannels, this season is a chance to spend time together and learn a little more about one another. If you’re making plans, check with someone whose schedule or circumstances differ from yours. They may suggest something you hadn’t considered, while there’s still time to change it.
Sources:
- Diversity Council Australia (DCA), End of Year Celebrations for Everyone: How to Make Workplace Socialising More Inclusive, dca.org.au/news/blog/end-of-year-celebrations-for-everyone-how-to-make-workplace-socialising-more-inclusive
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), How to Make Holiday Celebrations More Inclusive, shrm.org/topics-tools/news/hr-magazine/how-to-make-holiday-celebrations-inclusive
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Tips for Employers to Help Make the Festive Season a Success for Everyone, cipd.org/en/about/press-releases/christmas-tips
