Christmas Does Not Belong in the Workplace

Christmas does not belong in the workplace because it undermines diversity at work. And businesses that promote diversity have more profits in the long run than companies that do not have a diverse workforce.

A big problem with Christmas is that those of us who have no reason to celebrate it have to spend a month between Thanksgiving and New Year's dealing with Christmas at work. Christmas is the only religious holiday that everyone has to stop working for. It's the only religious event that offices have parties to celebrate. These practices alienate non-Christians.

Businesses that curtail practices that alienate minorities will see growth to their bottom line as a direct result of this action. And besides, promoting acceptance of diverse backgrounds at work enriches our lives, independent of the bottom line.

But encouraging diversity doesn't mean diverse ways to celebrate Christmas. Diversity is giving people space to ignore Christmas. Forcing people to take the day off requires everyone to run their work life around this holiday in a way they might not have chosen for themselves. Yet still, Christmas continues to permeate workplaces across the United States.

Do you want to make a difference? Start with yourself. When it comes to discussing Christmas in the workplace, here are five offensive things people say to someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas. Don't say them.

1. "Christmas is not a religious holiday."

The only people who think Christmas is not religious are the Christians. Everyone else thinks, "This is not my holiday." In fact, only a Christian would feel enough authority over the holiday to declare that it is not Christian.

To think that Christmas is for everyone is tantamount to Americans who think that everyone says bathing suit for the thing you wear to go swimming. In fact, the British say "swimming costume" but you'd never know that if you only hang around Americans. The smaller your frame of reference the more convinced you are that the way you do things is the way everyone does things.

2. "Stop complaining! You get an extra day off from work."

I don't want a day off on Christmas. It's a great day to work. No one calls. No one interrupts me. And in many workplaces there's great camaraderie in the office on Christmas because only a few people are there, and they all have something in common: They don't celebrate Christmas.

I want a day off for Yom Kippur, which I usually have to take a personal day for. Why do I have to take a personal day for Yom Kippur but no one has to take a personal day for Christmas? This is not equal treatment for religious groups.

3. "Christmas is about good cheer. Focus on that and lose your bad attitude."

I know I have a bad attitude. But consider that the fact that good cheer is mandated in December is also a Christian trope. For example, Thanksgiving is the holiday that makes a lot of sense to surround with good cheer. It's about gratitude. Makes sense that we'd focus on Thanksgiving.

And the idea that we add Hanukkah to the mix is ridiculous. Hanukkah is about a war victory. The good cheer mandates are not coming from the Jews except in a sort of peer pressure way to cope with the Christian insistence that we all be happy because the Christians are happy.

4. "You can also take a day off for Hanukkah."

First of all, Hanukkah is eight days. Second of all, the holiday isn't a big deal to us, except that it's a way for Jewish kids to not feel outgunned in the gift category. Jacob Sullum wrote in Reason magazine last year, "It is inappropriate...to make such a fuss over Chanukah, a minor Jewish holiday whose importance has been inflated in the popular imagination by its accidental proximity to Christmas."

So look, we don't want a day off for Hanukkah. Or any other Jewish holiday. We want floating holidays that everyone uses, for whatever they want. It doesn't have to be religious, or it can be. But we don't need our work telling us when to take time off. It's insulting and totally impractical.

5. "We get Christmas off at work because this is a Christian country."

People actually say this to me. Every year. I'm not kidding. People tell me that I should move to Israel if I don't want to celebrate Christmas. Really.

I tell you this so that you understand what it's like to be a minority. The majority of the country is not New York and Los Angeles, and in the majority of the country thinks Christmas is actually sanctioned by the government. For example, my son's public school in Madison, Wisc., has the kids make a December calendar that includes the birthdays of four saints. Surely this is illegal mixing of church and state, but I don't hear any complaining from parents.

People want tolerance and diversity but they are not sure how to encourage it. There is a history of tolerance starting first in business, where the change makes economic sense: Think policies against discrimination toward women, and health insurance that includes gay partners. Tolerance and awareness in the workplace reliably trickle down to other areas of society.

So do what you can at work, where you can argue that tolerance and diversity improve the bottom line, and you will affect change in society, where tolerance and diversity give deeper meaning to our lives.

Comments

[ibsteve2u]

Intolerance has many manifestations; one of them is attempting to motivate some larger force to attack another group.

I do believe the corporate drive for profit has been used before...was it the offer of cheap slave labor in Nazi Germany?

[WilliePilgrim]

Maybe you're right. Xmas doesn't belong in the work space. Come to think of it, having worked in the "workplace" for a few years myself, perhaps nobody belongs in the work space as defined by western culture. It steals human initiative and replaces contentment in simple things with an insatiable desire to have more and more while worrying that you won't have the power to purchase it unless someone else fails utterly.
Happy solstice.

[itguykelly]

The writer's complaint is that Christmas celebrations at work alienate non-Christians. That makes me think that writer is being rounded up and forced to attend Advent vespers against her will.

That Christmas is given as a day off makes an assumption that all people are Christian, and that they all celebrate Christmas. Writer wants a day off for her own religious observations without having to use her vacation or personal days. Individuals should be given wide discretion and "reasonable accommodation" in determining time off for religious observation. An employee should be given a day off without penalty to observe Yom Kippur or Diwali, in addition to Christmas. Accommodation should be made for an employee to take a break during the day for prayer if so observed. The underlying principle is that employers want to attract and retain the best and brightest employees and cultural sensitivity is what makes the most sense.

The answer is not going to be in "doing away with Christmas" in the workplace. Trying to eliminate Christmas from the workforce will simply fan the flames of resentment and hostility among people who feel that their own identity is being attacked.

What we need is a workplace that acknowledges that people are not just Christian, but Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Atheist, etc. The whole diversity in the workplace thing is about the fact that no one should be discriminated against based on their religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, skin color, etc. We all have to get along with each other every day for 9 hours. Not only that, but that learn from each other and come to see that our differences make us a more agile, better company. If writer is not able to take a day off for her religious observations without using her vacation or personal day, then I do urge writer to lobby her organization for change to that policy.

Finally, as someone who is not eligible for vacation at my new job until next year, a day off really is very welcome to me, for whatever reason.

[robinhood1]

The demographics are not with you, Ms. Trunk. In a few years, I would suspect that Jewish holidays will no longer be noted on mainstream calendars. With candidates like preacher Huckabee running for the highest office in the land and his rivals falling all over themselves trying to out-Christian one another, it's only a question of time before prayer is brought back to the public school classroom and the King James bible is once again required for swearing in elected officials. I suspect that Justice Scalia would have no problem with leaving it up to State Boards of Education to decide whether prayer in public schools is appropriate in their jurisdictions.

[Schlomo83]

This is delicious. After living and working in the Middle East (Israel; Jordan; Egypt; Lebanon; Qatar; and sadly, KSA), all these countries gladly celebrate Christmas except israel, which reluctantly goes for it to gain travelers' shekels who want visit the HL.

So why, when 100 percent of "why celebrate Christmas in the US" people being either atheists or Jewish, do we as a country think Islam is out to ruin our culture and our religion? I've never met a Muslim, of the 5,000 I've met and befriended, who gave any malice to Christianity or even to me as an American working on behalf of the US Govt.

Don't get me started on this fake "Judeo-Christian founding of America." Holy Christ, what a farce. Ten years ago, Judeo-Christian wasn't ever spoken, but it's a buzz phrase now for israeli firsters, i.e., all congresspersons and media/tv/p­ress/radio geeks.

What a farce of a country.

[JBL55]

Penelope, you wrote, "A big problem with Christmas is that those of us who have no reason to celebrate it have to spend a month between Thanksgiving and New Year's dealing with Christmas at work."

I can really relate to this sentence, only I would have put it this way: a big problem with Christmas is that those of us who celebrate it as a holy day have to spend a month between Thanksgiving and New Year's dealing with Christmas at work.

Right now I'm observing the season of Advent, the single most neglected season on the church calendar. But at work, every time I turn around I'm being asked "Finished your Christmas shopping yet?" or "Why isn't your cubicle decorated for Christmas?" or equally inane questions by people who have absolutely no interest in Advent, let alone the jars of preserves I put up last summer to give at Christmas.

I've been called "Grinch" and "Scrooge" more times than I can be bothered to remember, just because I'm not stressed out and frantically running around. And the funniest thing about it is that the name-callers insist I should be as crazy as they are because my birthday falls on Christmas Eve.

So the next time you are annoyed about having to deal with these folks, if it helps, remind yourself you are not alone. A fair number of Christians are with you 100%!

[loril]

Now that we are in a disturbing period where the seperation of church and state, which I took as a "given" in this country when I was young, is getting trampled by the evangelical fringe, I do take your point. Perhaps this is the time for some more extreme measures to be taken by those of us who desire to keep religion firmly in the realm of private life, not public life.

However, the idea of banning Christmas is hard for many people...witness so many progressive, secular humanist or atheist posters who still look forward to the day as a time to relax, see family and friends, eat well, decorate etc. Maybe those of us who enjoy Christmas so much are all just kids at heart.

Your hardcore focus on the job at all costs also alienates people like me. Americans get so little vacation time compared to workers in other highly developed nations. Most of us would rather have a day to ourselves, even if we don't celebrate the holiday.

We have not had a vacation in at least 5 years. My spouse works long hours. To us, any holiday is a welcome break. We don't get enough of them, in my opinion. So, in an environment where so many workers are putting in marathon work weeks, working multiple jobs and having no time or money for breaks...the idea that Christmas is just another opportunity to get more work done falls kind of flat.

[texastrixie]

Unfortunately Penelope, Christmas and the US as a "Christian" nation was established long ago. I agree that it is wrong that every other religious holiday in this country which is NOT tied to Christianity is considered bogus, but they are. The reason they don't want you working on Christmas is that 99% of the rest of the country is off, and they don't think you can accomplish much if the rest of the world is drinking eggnog. Plus, by law they would probably have to pay you double time. I love Christmas, but the way we celebrate it is unfair to other faiths. As to diversity, whatever made you think that anyone in this country really cares about diversity. We wish to appear to want diversity, but don't believe it.

[Wilburrr]

With all due respect, the argument is backwards. Christmas does belong in the workplace as does Yom Kippur, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and everything else. We should be celebrating our differences, not hiding them.

[Mykel]

Oh, please! Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater! Do what I do, as the Office Gay Guy, and decorate the workplace with EVERY religious and cultural celebration of the winter. We've got Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas decor all over the place. Other groups are free to offer suggestions or bring their own decor and the decorating committee puts it up with gusto!

If atheists are concerned, they need to remember that Kwanzaa certainly isn't religious, in nature, and that bright lights and revelry during the long, dark winters can be scientfically proven to have beneficial effects on the human psyche.

So, away with all Grinches and Scrooges!

Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus!

[Clarabell]

Christmas is about presents, about how much money the merchants make -- and without it many businesses would fold. And even those of us who do go to church buy buy buy presents -- The religious aspect has been pretty much stiffled. It's a very difficult holiday for many people, especially those who are alone, but can you imagine the calendar year without it -- what would we do for the last three months?

[suki21693]

You complain about Christmas because it is a religious holiday and then say "Thanksgiving is the holiday that makes a lot of sense to surround with good cheer. It's about gratitude."

Gratitude to whom exactly. Thanksgiving is a religious holiday as well, it about giving thanks to God. So your idea of tolerance and diversity, in addition to excluding Christians also apparently does not apply to atheists?

Tolerance and diversity are about widen the circle to include more people and their traditions, not about excluding the ones that do not apply to you.

[andrew1]

You forgot one reason that most people don't work on Christmas... it's a federal holiday.

So, if you want to force people to work on Christmas, a federal holiday, then you should ensure that everyone works on New Year's day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Labor Day, Martin Luther King Day, Thanksgiving... fill in the blank. All are equally federal holidays given over to either celebration, rememberance or both.

And should you be allowed to take a day off for Yom Kippur? Yes. Should you have some flexibility to accomodate your individual religious beliefs if not Christian? Yes. But until the President rescinds the executive order that declares Christmas a federal holiday for the United States, you are simply barking up the wrong tree. And if celebrating Christmas offends someone, then you should be equally appauled at businesses which allow Jews to wear yarmulkes and celebrate Channukah, Muslims to wear burqas or hijabs or turbans and celebrate Ramadan, Hindus to wear the bindi or tilaka and celebrate Chauth. I would also imagine that you are opposed to put in footwashing rooms in public areas which is nothing more than a religious accomodation.

[sws3030]

Did any of you read this post?

She did not say don't celebrate Christmas. You can still use your floating holiday to engage in the holiday customs that "Christians" hijacked from Pagan celebrations. Its a shame believing in Jesus kills your imagination-why else would they have stolen trees and gifts and a day of feasting as their own concept.

I celebrate every holiday-I love learning about other cultures and lifestyles, but thats me...and its my personal thing...it has nothing to do with my career, or the person at the next desk, or my UPS guy.

Everything in life revolves around the CHristian calendar. And no-its not always convenient. Maybe we need to put certain things in place where they belong...like religion...which is a personal thing and should be kept to yourself...instead of torturing the rest of us with your version of how we all should live.

[AmericanFool]

Penelope, your column is a discredit to Americans everywhere. Diversity does NOT mean eliminating all traces of existing culture so that nothing remains to celebrate. As an agnostic, I celebrate Easter and Christmas. I also celebrate Cinco de Mayo, St Patrick's day, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Veteran's day, Labor Day, July 4th, MLK Day - in short all the holidays central to American culture. I honor the spirit behind each holiday. Eliminating American Culture from the American Workplace is an ugly, mean-spirited, politically correct, and totally backwards approach to diversity. American culture is about embracing the new and acceptance of the different. At our best we add, we don't subtract. We admire, we don't begrudge. We honor, we don't sneer. Like all people everywhere, we often fail to live up to these ideals, but we come close enough to create something wonderful. I don't begrudge my European co-workers their long summer/fall holidays, or my Brazilian co-workers their Mardi Gras, or my chinese co-workers their New Year holidays. Sure they are inconvenient, but I work around them all with acceptance and good humor.