Christmas, Ramadan, Hanukah, Diwali, New Year’s, and lots of other special occasions are times for celebration. We need to embrace them in the workplace to ensure we have a community - not just staff and managers. Managers are responsible for managing the social sensitivities with care and lightness of spirit.
Celebrations bring a sense of joy to our interactions with others. Joining together around a non-work special occasion can relieve interpersonal tensions that arise over time – like a psychic deep breath. Co-workers who don’t share views on how work should be done may find common beliefs or hopes in the midst of festivities.
Many workplaces subsume religious connotations in working as a team for a local charity, such as Inn From the Cold, or the Drop-Centre, or the YWCA. The teamwork repairs relations, and enables people to talk to each other without regard to hierarchy. The exposure to situations and individuals who live immersed in really basic problems gives us a perspective on the worries we have in the office.
Sustained laughter is even an aerobic exercise. Naturally, we will feel better from enjoying festive occasions throughout the year. Socially, we work better after expanding our horizons enough to acknowledge our common good fortune.
Work consumes so much of our time and energy and emotional commitment - our lives, really. When it can reach the status of 'community', it is a blessing for all. Thanks for this thoughtful and yet practical post.
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