Avoid party fouls during the holidays
As we dive into the holiday season, human resources departments everywhere begin to go on high alert for the ever-so-reliable holiday “overachievers.”
I’m not talking about overachieving in terms of work performance. I’m talking about overachieving holiday partiers — those employees and executives who just can’t stop at one celebratory toast.
They make HR’s spirit far from festive, especially when cellphones come out and digital archiving of the “fun” begins. You can now add sexual harassment investigations and discrimination prevention training to HR’s to-do list for the new year.
If I may speak momentarily as the voice of HR managers everywhere, I can assure you that we are, in fact, fun people. But we are also responsible people whose jobs are to help keep everyone safe — even at office parties. So, while we still enjoy the festivities, we are also there to keep an eye out. that 90 percent would prefer a bonus or extra vacation time over a company-sponsored event as an annual holiday perk. What’s more, the study also found that employees often felt pressured to attend holiday parties, with roughly 70 percent of younger workers reporting they felt compelled to participate in holiday activities.
What employees do seem to appreciate is philanthropy. The Randstad study reported that nearly 75 percent of employees polled valued holiday philanthropic efforts, more than any other seasonal perk. This mirrors insights from a recent article published by the Society of Human Resources Management that highlighted how companies are reconsidering the traditional holiday party and turning to other team-building and community service opportunities instead.
The end of the year is an excellent time for employers to
survey their workforce about what holiday events and perks they find most valuable and meaningful. The results can help determine better activities to do for the holidays next year. It is easy to fall into the trap of “this is what we have always done,” but it might be time to shake things up.
Christmas City Follies: a one-of-akind Vaudevillian holiday sendup at the Touchstone Theatre in Bethlehem
ArtsQuest: pick from an array of concerts, classes, events, shows and exhibits
Discover Lehigh Valley: offers a wonderful online calendar of events — you can even call them for advice.
Allentown Rescue Mission: There are many ways to help here, including donating much needed cleaning, grooming and clothing supplies for men.
Boys and Girls Clubs: There are several chapters in the Lehigh Valley where you can donate gifts for children ages 5-18.
Feeding America: Find a local food bank or soup kitchen to help with this resource.
Group visits to a local elder care facility: You can spend an afternoon doing crafts or playing bingo with seniors who would love the company.
Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley: Check out this extensive clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities within the community.
Be sure to contact the organizations ahead of time to coordinate your activity.
Happy holidays to all of my readers! Be safe and enjoy!