Posted on 12/20/2011 4:20:21 AM PST by sauropod
Yes, this is an actual article...
The end of December is notoriously expensive for companies, literally-because everyone who has any room left in their budget is spending it on whatever they can find, seeing that the money is burning a hole in their pockets-but figuratively, as well-because it's a time when company morale can plummet if you're not watching carefully. This post addresses the figurative cost of Christmas. Here are three things that every business owner should be prepared to handle during the holidays.
1. The Christmas Caste System
People who are higher up in the organization usually take time off. First of all, they can afford to go on fun trips at the most expensive travel times of the year. Second, they are not hourly, so they won't miss the paycheck. Lower-level workers, however, are less likely to have paid vacation days and, therefore, less likely to take time off, since they need to earn the money. This means some offices are full of low-level workers acutely aware of the fact that higher-level workers are kicking back.
The best way to combat the effects of this cultural division is to help lower-level people find the hidden benefits to working during holidays. One benefit is that if a big job comes in, people who don't usually get the high-profile work will be able to take it because they're the only ones around.
2. The Christmas party trysts
The statistics surrounding office Christmas parties are incredible. More than 40 percent of all men have said they had a romantic exchange with someone at an office Christmas party. This statistic is consistent with a wide range of other statistics. For example, Trojan condoms found that most men would be willing to have sex with a co-worker during the party if the opportunity presented itself. The good news is that one fourth of the relationships that begin at an office Christmas party end in marriage. The bad news is that most office relationships don't end in marriage but rather in a mess that derails productivity for months.
3. Christmas shuns diversity
What about skipping the Christmas cheer altogether? Here's some logic for you. Diversity increases productivity at most companies. In order to gain the benefits of diversity, though, the company must encourage diverse ways of life. Christmas is a religious holiday. Christmas at the office is bad for diversity. To have Christmas dominate the office for a month is to announce to people that if you don't celebrate Christmas you are not part of the team. It's not said explicitly, but it's implicit. Christmas is bad for diversity in the workplace.
And, before you start defending yourself, calling your party a holiday party is not a solution; in fact it's totally annoying to people who don't celebrate Christmas. And here are five other things that people say at work about Christmas that are totally annoying.
They do indeed.
Wait'll you've had "diversity training."
I had two glorious days of it last year. /retch
Ping!
I’ve had it...except I haven’t had to suffer as much as you. You have my sympathies.
The company I work for has sold their “soul” to diversity.
There is a complete organization within whose sole purpose is to promote that garbage.
All of the events that the company used to allow, Christmas dinners, car and plane shows, bbq’s, etc. are all now “sponsored” by the diversity organization.
“Retch” is right...
Dear “American” Express:
Eff you. You should change your name to Liberal Express.
Oh, and Merry Christmas, too.
-Hale
Many HR Professionals voted for Obama just because he wasn't all white! And now the US picture is all black. Hello?
I'm sure I would have a lot of fun asking questions at a "diversity" workshop. Unfortunately, our university has moved all of its HR workshops into online training, so troublemakers like me have a harder time practicing our trade. :-)
A “romantic exchange” could mean, “Hey, you look really nice! That outfit is great on you!” “Thanks for noticing - I appreciate it!”
That’s the last diversity “workshop” we’ve had. Since then they’ve done different actvities such as having volunteers demonstrate hobbies and such. The diversity potluck went over well....bring a dish that you grew up with. You got some weird food combinations that way (who eats egg rolls with lasagne?) But then food always goes over well with our group.
Boy are you old fashioned. If you watch TV you'll find out that now-a-days "romance" means rutting like wild animals with someone who's name you may or may not know, who is of the same or opposite sex, on or before the first date.
What you've described is sexual harassment.
I haven't had to go through diversity training in the private sector, however I did spend several years working for an angry lesbian. Does that count?
Not unless she had a whip ;-)
To a liberal, excluding Christians, conservatives, and captialists is being “diverse”, more like perverse.
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