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‘Tis the season for company celebrations, but sometimes a little controversy can dampen the holiday spirit. There has been a debate over the last several years regarding the term “Christmas Party” versus “Holiday Party.” Do privately-owned companies have a legal choice when it comes to calling a company event either a Christmas Party or Holiday Party?
There is no rule that you cannot have a “Christmas Party” instead of a “Holiday Party.” However, the practical and business-related idea behind hosting such an event is to show appreciation for your employees and establish a time for team-building and celebration. These events require a lot of planning, expense, and effort, and you typically only get a return on investment to the extent that employees feel they are celebrated, appreciated, and included.
Most employers therefore choose to host a single year-end holiday party or event that is inclusive of all the seasonal celebrations that their employees might observe between November and early January. Additionally, many employers solicit ideas from staff to get feedback about what would make the party great. What the event is called or how it is themed may seem relatively minor, but the name could be important to many staff members.
So while there is no obligation on your part to give an event one title over another, there are practical reasons why most employers decide to invest in a broad and inclusive holiday or year-end celebration for their staff.
For more information on how GTM advises clients on HR best practices, contact us at (518) 373-4111.
