Are your offices all decorated for the “holidays”? You may have left out any manger scenes, but it’s obvious that what you decorated for is Christmas. Fir trees, Santa Claus, and maybe an Elf on the shelf that your HR manager moves around.
Christmas isn’t the only holiday in December. Jews around the world celebrate Hanukkah this year from December 14 to December 22. Even though it’s a somewhat minor holiday within the faith, your Jewish employees and customers will appreciate if you understand that Hanukkah is not a “Jewish Christmas.” It’s its own holiday.
If you try to just force Hanukkah into your Christmas celebrations and cover it up by claiming it’s a holiday party, as you sing Away in a Manger, ” it can make people feel left out and unappreciated.
Acknowledging Hanukkah as its own holiday and celebrating as you do other holidays can go a long way toward an inclusive environment. Here are some things to remember.
To keep reading, click here: Hanukkah Is Not ‘Jewish Christmas,’ and Treating It That Way Creates Workplace Problems