By Sallie Biittner, Executive Consultant, Affinity HR Group
‘Tis the season for holiday parties, gift exchanges, year-end bonuses, ringing out the old and welcoming the new. It is a time of enormous opportunity to do good, but also of enormous risk that the best intentions can come back to haunt you like Marley’s ghost. And misfires during the holiday season can leave a most lasting impression of any.
Claudia St. John, president of Affinity HR Group, remembers her very first office party as a young professional. “The mail room was transformed into a low-lit den with loud pulsing music. Some of my professional coworkers were drinking with abandon and suggestively dancing with each other – in not such a great way. As I recall, one of the secretaries danced on top of an expensive copying machine, only to fall, throw up and call in sick the next day. It still gives me the creeps just thinking about it.“
I myself recall a gift exchange that went awry at the facility where I was the head of human resources. One year we gave out frozen turkeys – 700 of them. But we forgot to order bags to carry them in. Imagine hundreds of people holding 15 lb. frozen turkeys while trying to have a good time. I’ll never forget the sight of people dropping them in the parking lot on the long trek out to their cars!
In an effort to help you avoid any holiday mishaps, we’ve put our collective experiences together and compiled some helpful tips for you as you plan how to celebrate the season with your employees.
Need a Big Party? Organizations tend to be towards more personal events that allow for more meaningful communication and celebration. This fits nicely within a budget as well. Very large companies are starting to substitute the big corporate bash for departmental celebrations of their own choosing. Consider giving employees a chance to suggest what format would be most meaningful to them. You may be surprised. A catered event in the owner or a manager’s home is always a nice, personal touch.
Alcohol or No? Whether or not to serve alcohol at a company function can be a difficult decision for business owners. Some companies have an established culture where they are used to having it as part of the annual holiday event. Others are moving away from alcohol to avoid embarrassing events or to support those who do not to consume. Holiday lunch parties are a great alternative and can usually avoid the question of alcohol altogether. And if an evening affair is held, have a hard-end date (say 5:00 to 7:00 pm). If you choose to invite alcohol to your party, a word of advice: be the role model and indulge moderately and advise those who manage others to do the same.
Think Family The holidays, no matter how you celebrate, are a family time. As you gather to show your appreciation of your employees’ hard work and their contribution to your collective success, be sure to include appreciation of employees’ families and the role their support has played. Consider buying gifts for your employee’s children as a holiday gift – it’s a nice act that the whole family can enjoy.
Different Celebrations are Involved As we become a more diverse nation and workforce, it is important to remember that not everyone celebrates the same type of holiday or in the same way. In your messaging, both written and verbal, choose inclusive language that emphasizes the time of year as one to reflect, appreciate and acknowledge people’s contributions. Some businesses encourage diversity by asking employees of different faiths or cultures to bring in food or decorations that commemorate their holiday season so that all can be enriched.
Gifts for Employees Some companies like to provide a token of appreciation to employees. This is almost always appreciated by employees no matter how big or small. But don’t substitute gift-giving for the opportunity to talk directly with each employee about what you appreciate in them and their service. They will remember what you say long after they have forgotten what the gift was. Two great gift ideas are giving presents to employees’ children or a ‘Tis Best gift card that enables employees to make a charitable donation to the non-profit organization of their choosing. In our experience, employees very much appreciate receiving this “gift of giving.”
IRS Gift Implications In considering employee gifts, keep in mind the IRS De Minimis rule that considers a taxable benefit any gifts that are considered of significant market value or are cash or cash equivalent in any amount (such as a gift card). A general, and safe rule of thumb is to keep the value of the gift in the $25 range. A turkey or ham is not considered taxable but don’t forget bags to put them in!
Don’t Break the Rules This is the time of year when everyone is busy and facing the same work-life pressures. If you treat individuals differently, in terms of leave, flex time, etc, it will create un-needed tensions between individuals or departments.
We hope these suggestions will help you and your employees celebrate the holiday season in a safe and supportive environment. Happy holidays to you from your partners at Affinity HR Group!
