I think I have seen a situation like this every year.
FoxNews reported today “Florida Woman Claims She Was Fired for Refusing to Say ‘Happy Holidays’“. According to the story, the woman says she was told to wish callers “[tag]Happy Holidays[/tag].” She refused on the basis of religious belief, requesting an accommodation to say “Merry [tag]Christmas[/tag]” (or no holiday greeting instead). Management refused and supposedly fired her for this. The company has stated her story is “absolutely false.”
This is a real challenge for businesses today as our economy and business reach has gone global, and as our [tag]local environments[/tag] have become so diverse.
I have been in the situation of needing to counsel, advise, and decide exactly how to deal with what used to seem to be so simple as well-wishing and a [tag]holiday greeting[/tag]. The sad truth is, I have been down the path of “let’s use ‘happy holidays’ for the sake of diversity.”
If you read my post from last week, you will realize that I have some different feelings on it now. Why?
According to the FoxNews story, this woman did not want to use the “Happy Holiday’s” greeting because “The world … groups Christmas with other holidays, and that’s offensive to me as a Christian.”
I understand her position. I have a different take on it. As I explained in my earlier post, I think we have lost a depth of emotion and caring for others by minimizing and marginalizing a single holiday into a group of holidays. I can feel just as much energy and emotion and joy for you to celebrate [tag]Hanukkah[/tag] as I can for me to celebrate Christmas. Does this minimize my reason for celebrating Christmas. Absolutely not. It means that I care about you as much as I care about me.
But how does a business deal with this situation?
One alternative would be to actually use each greeting. Yes, this can be cumbersome, and it can be confusing. But imagine the pleasure someone on the other end of the greeting might get out of it — and isn’t business about [tag]customer service[/tag]?
“Hi, this is A1 Auto Repair. We hope you have a Happy Hanukkah or a Merry Christmas! How can we serve you today?”
I’d love to hear comments of how businesses have chosen to address this? I’m aware of the reality of our marketplace, but concerned about the disintegration of individual and organizational values. How have you managed to balance these two in this very visible example of the holiday season?
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