Holiday Decor in Office

[Anonymous]

I’m new to a small non profit. One of my employees asked if we could put up a Christmas tree in the lobby of our office. Checked with management and was told no because it’s a religious expression and could offend those who don’t celebrate. Then I asked about poinsettias and was told those too are Christian symbols. My former workplace tastefully decorated for Christmas and put out a menorah which people seemed to like. No nativity scenes - more holiday decor.

How does your company handle holiday decor - allowed or not?

[Anonymous]

We have clients who send in large poinsettias. They stay up (some until summer), until someone takes them home.

[Anonymous]

How is a Christmas tree religious? Isn't it a federal holiday that your work gives off to you (or pays you holiday pay)? To me, nativities are the religious display, as are menorahs. My extended family that's very religious doesn't use Christmas trees as they see them as secular.

[Anonymous]

My fed office has a tree and poinsettias in the lobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is a Christmas tree religious? Isn't it a federal holiday that your work gives off to you (or pays you holiday pay)? To me, nativities are the religious display, as are menorahs. My extended family that's very religious doesn't use Christmas trees as they see them as secular.

Whether you see them as secular or not, they celebrate a holiday that is predominantly known as a religious holiday. The office is well within its rights to restrict expression of religion, even if it is a secular expression of a religious holiday.

OP--my suggestion is that you celebrate with winter based decoration. Snow and winter decorations, snowflakes, snow people, candy canes, Nutcracker soldiers, penguins, candles, ornaments (make sure to have some in blue & white to be inclusive of Hannukkah). There are lots of non-religious seasonal decorations that can be used to make things festive without highlighting one religion's observation of the Winter Solstice other others.

[Anonymous]

I work for a non-profit. They put up a Christmas tree, Kinara (Kwanzaa), and a menorah. They also set out poinsettias and they encourage employees to decorate their work spaces.

[Anonymous]

It looks like Christmas violently puked in my office. I'm jewish and uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

Your office is right. She can decorate her space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is a Christmas tree religious? Isn't it a federal holiday that your work gives off to you (or pays you holiday pay)? To me, nativities are the religious display, as are menorahs. My extended family that's very religious doesn't use Christmas trees as they see them as secular.

Whether you see them as secular or not, they celebrate a holiday that is predominantly known as a religious holiday. The office is well within its rights to restrict expression of religion, even if it is a secular expression of a religious holiday.

OP--my suggestion is that you celebrate with winter based decoration. Snow and winter decorations, snowflakes, snow people, candy canes, Nutcracker soldiers, penguins, candles, ornaments (make sure to have some in blue & white to be inclusive of Hannukkah). There are lots of non-religious seasonal decorations that can be used to make things festive without highlighting one religion's observation of the Winter Solstice other others.

You realize candy canes, candles, nutcracker, and all that are Christmas.

[Anonymous]

We don't have any company-sponsored decorations, but some people have them in their offices.

[Anonymous]

My fed building has professional decorations in the lobby. (Not sure if its paid for by the agency or the building management). Decorated trees and greenery swags with ornaments. Pre-covid people used to put up decorations in their individual offices. I had a little desk-top tree. I haven't seen that recently probably since WFH is much more generous.

[Anonymous]

My office has a tree and a wreath.

Soon to be inundated with basket upon basket of chocolates I'm sure too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is a Christmas tree religious? Isn't it a federal holiday that your work gives off to you (or pays you holiday pay)? To me, nativities are the religious display, as are menorahs. My extended family that's very religious doesn't use Christmas trees as they see them as secular.

A christmas tree is religious because it's associated with christmas, which is a religious holiday.

[Anonymous]

Poinsettias aren't religious, but it sounds like the nonprofit doesn't want anyone to get into holiday decorating at all.

Maybe it's connected to the mission, maybe they just don't want to deal with decorating for every holiday,.maybe they are just tired and don't want to deal with it.

For example : I worked at a library open to the public and we didn't want random people coming in having a fit if we had holiday decorations that weren't representative of every religious group, so we just avoided holiday decorations in general. See: recent Williamsburg clusterin the news. Sometimes it's best not to entertain any holiday decorations at all.

Eventually we did "winter" decorations, like snowflakes. And spring decorations, like flowers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poinsettias aren't religious, but it sounds like the nonprofit doesn't want anyone to get into holiday decorating at all.

Maybe it's connected to the mission, maybe they just don't want to deal with decorating for every holiday,.maybe they are just tired and don't want to deal with it.

For example : I worked at a library open to the public and we didn't want random people coming in having a fit if we had holiday decorations that weren't representative of every religious group, so we just avoided holiday decorations in general. See: recent Williamsburg clusterin the news. Sometimes it's best not to entertain any holiday decorations at all.

Eventually we did "winter" decorations, like snowflakes. And spring decorations, like flowers.

This sounds nice. It’s silly to me only to decorate for one season. Change it out seasonally!