Are you inclusive or exclusive?

Christmas is a time for celebration and many businesses join in the festive season with office parties, corporate Christmas cards, business gifts, etc. The festival may have been adopted as an excuse for a national secular celebration, but it is still an occasion of religious significance to many. How does everyone enjoy the festive celebrations at work?

• "Bahá'is don't actually celebrate Christmas," says Barney Leith, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'is of the UK, "but we're unlikely to have any problems with Christmas festivities. We would however strongly emphasise that businesses which employ Bahá'is should provide non-alcoholic beverages at their Christmas festivities. It would be wonderful if party planners let their imaginations range beyond the all-too frequent orange juice and water for the non-drinkers - soft drinks don't have to be boring! It might even be worth asking the non-drinkers if they know any good recipes for non-alcoholic punch. Make the soft drinks equally accessible and appealing - and label them as non-alcoholic. It's easy for non-drinkers to assume that Bucks Fizz is orange juice that has gone off! (It has happened.)"



• Richard, an engineer from Surrey and a part-time preacher at the Methodist church, comments: "The Christmas party, or lunch in some cases, is a good time for the office to socialise. It brings the office team together in an informal way but should not be an occasion for a glorified free booze up - those who are shy wouldn't take part and the work would suffer next day. I also think that Christmas cards are meant more for those people you don't see rather than those you spend a third of your life with. Then the cards can be something meaningful."



• Eva, an office worker from Durham says: "I'm an atheist but still enjoy being able to have fun and get together with colleagues once a year. Most of the time we're just too busy to do or talk about anything other than work. Christmas lunch gives everyone permission to slow down and be sociable - and everyone can relate to that."



• Jane Clements, Education Officer at the Council of Christians and Jews says: "The most prominently-held Jewish view is that the abandonment of any tradition with Christian origins on the grounds that it might offend non-Christians is ridiculous. Most Muslims I have spoken to would also agree with this. However there may be questions about the nature of the event; Jews and others might have problems with the menu. One way of being open to all is to have drinks and nibbles (including soft drinks) that everyone can feel comfortable with, with a party or dinner for those who choose to enjoy it, later on. Make it clear to staff what will happen so that people can make up their own minds. If there are any activities planned that are specifically tied to festivities, such as singing the odd carol or a visit from Santa, make this clear too."



• "We Iranians celebrate the feast of the longest night and I personally look at Christmas as the western variant of the same tradition" says Homayoun, an IT specialist in Manchester. "I join in the office celebrations - except that I don't drink alcohol - but think of them in a different way."



• Mrudula works in retailing in North London and comments: "I celebrate Hindu festivals but also like to honour the Christmas tradition. At Christmas I like to send cards and share friendship with colleagues."



• Taylor, an administrative officer in Bath, says: "I was brought up in the Christian tradition but am now a practising Buddhist. Communities need communal festivals, and staff in an office are no exception. It doesn't matter what creed or culture people come from, the Christmas party is a good time for colleagues to get to know each other a bit better. If organisers are uncertain about what would be acceptable, then just ask."

It's heartening to find that the opinion of many cultural groups differs very little in essentials. Many, either from religious conviction, taste or pragmatism, think that office parties should include a good selection of non-alcoholic drinks and that the consumption of alcohol even for those who drink it, should be kept low.

Recognising the season's provenance, most have no problems with religious symbols on Christmas cards, etc. Most importantly, colleagues welcome the general celebration as an opportunity to get to know the people they work with.

So there you have it. At work Christmas is considered a time for relaxing with colleagues and building up good relationships for the future. The Christmas message "peace on earth and good will to all" is still appropriate it seems.