On the 7th day of Christmas HR was asked…”Can we run a Secret Santa? It’s going to be a blast!”
And HR replied…. OK but please don’t make anyone gasp!!
The tradition of Secret Santa in workplaces is one of morale-boosting Christmas cheer in which colleagues anonymously exchange presents, encouraging team-building and forging friendships. However, it is important to remember that things can quickly turn sour if the gifts are inappropriate or offensive to the recipient. What one colleague sees as a light-hearted joke or ‘office banter’ may be another colleague’s idea of bullying and could, in the worst-case scenario, result in claims of harassment or discrimination. The law defines harassment as unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. It is possible that an unwanted Secret Santa gift could fit within this definition, particularly if the gift is insensitive, offensive or of a sexual nature.
In order to preserve the goodwill of the holiday season, employers should consider ways in which they can prevent any issues before they arise. In the same way that it is good practice to send an email reminding staff of the organisation’s policies prior to any Christmas party or office get together, a similar reminder could be circulated about Secret Santa. As well as a request to be careful in the gifts that are chosen this...
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