Creative Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season at the Office (While Including and Respecting Everyone)

The holiday season offers a wonderful opportunity to foster joy and strengthen team bonds at work, but it’s essential to remember that not everyone celebrates Christmas or celebrates it in the same way. To create an diverse environment, consider the wide range of holiday traditions that may be observed by colleagues, such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other personal or cultural winter traditions, and focus on festivities that allow everyone to participate comfortably. Here, we explore some creative, respectful ways to observe the holiday season at the office while including remote team members and respecting diverse beliefs and preferences.

1. Holiday Theme and Decor

• Opt for winter or holiday-themed decorations that appeal to a broader audience. Snowflakes, pine cones, lights, and seasonal greenery create a festive atmosphere without centering on a single holiday. Encourage team members to share decor ideas that reflect their own seasonal traditions, which can make the workplace feel like a shared celebration of various winter holidays.
• Consider setting up a “Holiday Tree”, where employees can add small ornaments or notes that represent something meaningful to them during the season, whether it's family, personal goals, or traditions from their cultural backgrounds. This inclusivity can lead to richer, more personal decorations that everyone can enjoy.

2. Diverse Holiday Acknowledgment

• Send a thoughtful message at the beginning of the season acknowledging the variety of holidays your team may commemorate the season, from Christmas and Hanukkah to Kwanzaa, Diwali, and secular winter traditions. This small gesture recognizes the individuality of each team member’s beliefs and shows that the company values diversity.
• Consider dedicating a portion of your company’s internal newsletter or intranet space to share a “Holiday Spotlight,” where team members can volunteer to explain a bit about a holiday they celebrate. This not only promotes awareness but also educates colleagues on the variety of traditions observed during the season.

3. Office Festivities for All: Holiday Potluck or Snack Exchange

• Host a multicultural potluck where team members can bring in a dish or treat that is traditional to their holiday celebration or culture. For those who work remotely, consider organizing a virtual potluck where team members can share a recipe and enjoy a meal together over a video call.
• Alternatively, host a holiday snack exchange in the office or by mail, where employees bring in or send their favorite seasonal treats to a colleague. Include a card that explains why that snack is significant to them during the season, adding a personal touch to the exchange.

4. Winter-Season Themed Activities for Everyone

• Hold a winter craft day where employees can make decorations, ornaments, or holiday cards. Choose winter-themed projects that focus on the season rather than specific holidays. Remote employees can join in by mailing their creations to the office or participating in a virtual crafting session. This activity gives everyone a chance to tap into their creativity and produce items they can share or keep.
• Organize a “Winter Wonder” photo challenge. Invite employees to submit the photos they have captured of their favorite seasonal scenes or moments, which could be anything from snow-covered landscapes to cozy scenes of hot chocolate by the fire. Set up a board in the office to display the submissions, or create a virtual album that everyone can access.

5. Gift Exchange with a Twist

• Instead of a traditional gift exchange, consider these activities like: “Secret Snowflake” or “Random Act of Kindness.” Encourage employees to anonymously do something kind or give a small token of appreciation to a randomly assigned colleague.
• For remote employees, consider creating a digital space for this exchange or providing small online gift cards that can be sent virtually. Acts of kindness or small thoughtful messages can lift spirits and foster camaraderie without centering on a specific holiday.

6. Host Virtual Events

• Virtual Holiday Game Night: Organize an online game night where team members can play games like holiday trivia, Pictionary, or a seasonal edition of “Two Truths and a Lie.” Make sure the questions and games include winter traditions from around the world to ensure everyone feels represented.
• Online Holiday Happy Hour or Coffee Chat: Host a virtual happy hour where team members can join from anywhere with a drink or snack of their choice. Encourage everyone to share their favorite seasonal drink or treat and a story about why it’s special to them. This can be a relaxing and inclusive way for everyone to connect and unwind.
• Team Movie Night: Host a virtual movie night featuring a classic winter film or a holiday-neutral movie that focuses on themes of togetherness and kindness. Some platforms allow you to sync video streaming for remote participants, so everyone watches together, no matter where they are.

7. Holiday Card Exchange

• Set up a virtual or digital holiday card exchange where team members can opt to send cards to one another. Provide non-denominational options for those who prefer not to send or receive Christmas-themed messages.
• Consider making this an appreciation card exchange, where team members write positive messages to one another, focusing on qualities or contributions they appreciate. This simple act of gratitude can have a positive impact on morale and strengthen bonds across the team.

8. Give Back Together: Charity and Volunteering

• Organize a team charity drive that everyone can participate in, whether it’s donating to a food bank, collecting winter clothing, or sponsoring a family in need. Make it accessible for remote employees by choosing organizations that accept online donations or by creating a virtual “giving tree” where team members can sign up for specific contributions.
• If your company offers volunteer time off, consider organizing a team day of service where employees can volunteer virtually or in person. This approach gives everyone the opportunity to give back to their communities, a gesture that resonates with the spirit of many winter holidays without focusing on a single tradition.

9. Winter-Themed Competitions for a Bit of Fun

• Hold a “Decorate Your Workspace” competition where employees can decorate their desks, home office, or work area with seasonal (non-denominational) decor. For remote employees, have them submit photos, which can then be shared with the team for voting. Offer small prizes for categories like “Most Creative,” “Most Festive,” and “Best DIY Decor.”
• Another fun idea is a “Winter Sweater Day” (instead of the traditional Christmas sweater day). Invite employees to wear their coziest winter sweater to work or on a virtual call, encouraging everyone to embrace the winter theme without focusing on holiday-specific designs.

10. Reflect on the Year as a Team

• Take time to celebrate the team’s accomplishments over the past year. Host a virtual or in-office end-of-year retrospective, where employees can share their proudest moments, lessons learned, and goals for the coming year. This type of event focuses on everyone’s individual and team achievements, creating a positive, inclusive environment that all can enjoy.

Closing Thoughts: Respecting Diverse Holiday Beliefs

Above all, remember that everyone’s relationship with the holiday season is unique. Some may not celebrate any holiday, while others observe holidays like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or even New Year’s traditions. Foster respect by communicating openly with your team. Consider sending a company-wide message inviting everyone to share their favorites for holiday participation or even survey employees to gather feedback on how they’d like to see the season celebrated.

By creating a diverse, non-denominational celebrations and incorporating activities that appeal to a broad audience, you can help everyone feel involved, valued, and respected. Celebrating the season together—while acknowledging various beliefs—can strengthen bonds within your team, setting the tone for a new year full of collaboration and mutual respect.

© 2024 TriNet Group, Inc.  All rights reserved.  This communication is for informational purposes only, is not legal, tax or accounting advice, and is not an offer to sell, buy or procure insurance. TriNet is the single-employer sponsor of all its benefit plans, which does not include Enrich products and voluntary benefits that are not ERISA-covered group health insurance plans and enrollment is voluntary. Official plan documents always control and TriNet reserves the right to amend the benefit plans or change the offerings and deadlines.