5 Rules to Help You Navigate the Season with Grace  

In a 2015 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, only 65 percent of respondents said they planned to hold an end-of-the-year gathering for their employees, down from 72 percent in 2012. Does this mean that Ebenezer Scrooge is bringing back the humbug in 2016? Maybe, but that doesn’t mean the holiday party is the Ghost of Christmas Past quite yet. Although the traditional office celebration might not be as popular as it once was, more than likely the holidays will be celebrated or recognized one way or another at your office.

To help you make it through the office holiday season in good form, follow these etiquette tips to ensure you end the year with your spirits—and dignity—held high.

Gift Giving
The question of giving a gift to a fellow employee or boss can often be answered by checking HR protocol. Some offices have a policy against such gifting to simply prevent perceived favoritism or to avoid offending people who don’t celebrate Christmas. However, if your office does allow gift giving, you might want to check with your supervisor to see if there are plans for a charitable group gifting, or perhaps a Secret Santa event planned for a holiday party. If your office does allow personal gifts, make sure not to give anything that is too intimate or personal or even comically offensive. Your best bets are items such as appropriately selected gift certificates or gift cards (for example, you don’t want to give a nondrinker a gift card to a wine shop). Other safe ideas include charitable giving in honor of the recipient or locally sourced items like gift baskets and culinary items.

The Christmas Spirit(s)
What happens at holiday office parties, stays at holiday office parties. Or at least that’s what many people wish the Monday after the big shindig when many an over-imbiber has to make the walk of shame back through the office door. If your company does have a holiday party that includes alcohol, you will want to avoid being part of the cautionary tale of interoffice overindulgence. Beyond the obvious concerns about driving under the influence or medical issues, there are many social reasons to limit your intake and keep your wits about you. Remember, holiday parties are often where even the most professional person lets his or her hair down, and having too many drinks can lead to embarrassing or inappropriate actions that go against accepted rules of office behavior. So do yourself a favor and limit your consumption to one or two drinks, drink only on a full stomach, or remove all risks entirely by not indulging at all. Finally, remember that many people are nondrinkers because of their health, diet, religion, or addiction issues, and that a good host or fellow partier should always respect someone’s refusal of alcoholic beverages. 

Holiday Attire 
Many offices take on a decidedly relaxed tone during the holidays, allowing seasonal decorations to be displayed or holiday music to be played from 9-5. But keep in mind that business does go on. Your appearance defines who you are now as much as at any other time of the year, especially when meeting with colleagues, outside vendors, and clients. So avoid the ugly Christmas sweater. Ditch the holiday tie. Leave the Santa suit to old Saint Nick. And leave those jingle bell earrings to Mrs. Claus. You should look polished and professional even during the holidays. 

Seasonal Sensitivity
Everyone likes to have a good time and celebrate the holidays in ways that are personal and meaningful, but it’s important to keep in mind that offices are highly diverse places and that a shared breakroom might not be the best place for a manger scene or menorah. That doesn’t mean that the season should not be festive. Seasonal flowers and greenery are great decorations (except for those with allergies!) and décor can be made with colorful ribbons and lights. When planning office or cubicle decorations, remember to be sensitive to those of other beliefs and customs. Decorations for holiday gatherings should also be made by a committee that represents people of all religious creeds. The spirit of Christmas can be celebrated and shared in many ways.

Holiday Leave 
People with families often feel their holiday time off supersedes that of their single counterparts, but remember, even though the new kid in accounting is unmarried, child free and fresh out of college, he or she most likely wants to spend time with his or her family as much as the parents and grandparents in the office. Ensure that there are no hurt feelings by knowing what the time-off policy is well in advance of the holidays. You may also want to see if there are flextime options or if a co-worker is willing to cover any extra time you need take for the holidays. By planning in advance, you can ensure that your holiday leave requests are met with plenty of good will by your co-workers.

The holidays are a festive time, and following these tips will help ensure you, and your co-workers, enjoy the season.