A piece by Richard Fausta was recently posted on the website of Business Review Europe commenting on how Brits should celebrate Christmas in the workplace. It certainly had application to Americans during Christmastime.
Fausta said “Office decorations during the Christmas season is seen as one reason toward the notion that employees can lose focus.” For example, he noted, “Talking with co-workers about Christmas preparations, discussing shopping, parties and decorations can be perplexing to any manager dealing with staff productivity.” We asked Catholic League vice president Bernadette Brady about this. “We can’t relate to that,” Brady said, “Partying is precisely what allows us to focus.”
Fausta advised that “It’s best for employees to keep any highly religious displays inside the walls of cubicles.” We can’t relate to that Brady said. “We all have windowed offices.”
“If one of your colleagues wants to put up a picture of Jesus, but he works next to a Buddhist,” Fausta advised, “there may be some sensitivities involved to deal with.” We can’t relate to that Brady said. “We don’t hire Buddhists.”
Ever sensitive, Fausta observed that “What smells like a beautiful mix of holiday smells of cinnamon, baked apples, and gingerbread may make your Indian colleague keel over in convulsions.” We can’t relate to that Brady said. “We don’t hire Indians.”
“One survey found 85 percent of companies that decorate their offices have had to adjust policies as a result of complaints about the decorations,” Fausta said. We can’t relate to that Brady said. “We only hire Catholics.”
When Bill Donohue addressed this, he said, “In other words, to avoid complaints of discrimination in the workplace, be sure to discriminate when hiring. Either that or tell the whiners to get a life.”
