The WhIP Journal                                                         

BAH HUMBUG! Don’t Be A Scrooge This Holiday Season

Even though summer has just ended, December will be here very quickly and it’s time to start thinking about and planning the company holiday celebrations.
Whether you go all out with a large banquet or simply have a few snacks around the office, you need to think through your plan of action.

Ebenezer: I suppose you'll be wanting the whole day off tomorrow as usual.
Bob Cratchit: If quite convenient, sir.
Ebenezer: Every Christmas you say the same thing. And every Christmas it's just as inconvenient as the Christmas before.

First, of course, is to decide what kind of celebration you want to have and can afford. Your questions and thoughts should be:
For the office: Do we celebrate? What’s the budget? Do we decorate? Traditional or secular? Do we exchange gifts? Do we give bonuses?
For a ‘Party’: What’s the budget? What kind of activity? Where (venue)? When (choose your date and book early)? Do we invite spouses/others? Do we offer and/or pay for alcohol (if so, we must offer transportation)? Etc. (note: Make sure you communicate the fact that you want everyone to enjoy themselves, but policies that are in effect at the office need to be present at all company functions. Behavior that is unacceptable at work is also unacceptable for social functions, such as sexual harassment, etc.)

Is there anyone on your staff that may feel uncomfortable or out of place celebrating a holiday that is not their own? It is well established now that it is not a problem to celebrate the Christian holiday of Christmas or to wish people a “Merry Christmas”, but it’s always a kind and wise thing to be sensitive to other people, including your clients or customers. Be sensitive when you decide whether your workplace should be celebrating the birth of Christ, the gift giving of Santa, or the warmth and kindness of Seasons Greetings. Most people of different cultures or religious backgrounds will respect anyone's right to celebrate their religious holiday or the legitimate statutory holiday, but make sure that everyone has been given respect when it’s their holiday time. Small businesses can’t always afford to give time off for other holidays, but you can show respect and kindness in other ways.

A very respectful and lovely way of celebrating the holiday season is to start a tradition of community giving. This is something that can override all religious differences. Coming together as a group and choosing a ‘charity’ to support can be a wonderful way that everyone can celebrate the season. You may even find that your team will want to support the charity all through the year.

There are a lot of things to think about regarding your holiday planning, but it’s usually worth it in the end. Creating celebrations and traditions within a business environment are important and will help create a better community within your company.

Jacob Marley: In life, my spirit never rose beyond the limits of our money-changing holes!
Ebenezer: But it was only that you were a good man of business, Jacob!
Jacob Marley: BUSINESS? Mankind was my business! Their common welfare was my business!

Last year, I mentioned how I love the movie “A Christmas Carol” written by Charles Dickens, superbly played by Alastair Sim in the original version (in my humble opinion, anyway). Most of you know the story, so a very brief summary is that after many years of being a bitter, miserly wretch of an employer and human being, Scrooge is visited during the night of Christmas Eve by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley, as well as three spirits (past, present, and future). After a night of strange journeys, he wakes up in the morning as a man with a new appreciation for life and people. He's so full of joy and thankfulness that he can't stop giggling and laughing (not to mention dancing around the room). He spends that day (and the rest of his days) overwhelming people with his generosity and kindness, often saying "I don't deserve to be so happy".
I like to relate this story especially to those who are employers (although just being a human being also helps relate to the story). When you become an employer and hire staff, you have the opportunity to really make an impact on someone’s life. You will become an important part of their everyday life, and not just during the work hours, because they’ll take part of you home with them each evening. As well you will become part of their history. Whether your part in their life is a favourable one or not, is largely dependent on you. You have the opportunity to make their lives happier, fuller, and more content or you can make it harder, dissatisfying, and empty.

Let it never be said of you, as was said to Scrooge, that as your business prospered a golden idol took possession of your heart.

(For those of you who are still feeling Scrooge- like):
If, after reading this, you’re still in the mindset that it’s all a waste of time and money, and nothing more than a burden to endure, I would ask you to really to find out ‘why?’. Is it possible you’re burned-out? Is it possible you’ve lost your passion and motivation for doing what you do? Is this really the person you wanted to be? Is it that you haven’t hired the right people and feel disconnected to them as a ‘team’? You may have a ‘good’ reason why you simply would prefer to not give or reward during the holiday season, but those ‘good’ reasons should motivate you to change them.

Ebenezer: Bob, I haven't taken leave of my senses. I've come to them.

Best regards,
Debra Dowdell
Debra@PowerYourPractice.com
Bus: 905-951-9773
Toll-free: 1-888-272-2735
www.poweryourpractice.com

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Power Your Practice does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of any statement or other information and materials provided in this newsletter. All articles and other information and materials in this newsletter are provided for general information purposes only.

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
~Charles Dickens

Traditions are important in companies just as they are in families. And, nothing is more important than the annual traditions work places establish around the celebration of seasonal holidays.
-Susan M. Heathfield

Best regards,