Posted on 11/30/2001 8:42:29 AM PST by ppaul
TO: KC Global Announcement to All King County EmployeesFM: Ron Sims, King County Executive
RE: Holiday Celebrations
With the post September 11 tragedy climate and the religious holidays starting, we at King County want to ensure that any upcoming holiday celebration at the workplace is held in a respectful, inclusive, and sensitive manner that does not favor one religion over another. Particularly in public areas, this means that any holiday recognition or celebration should be religion-neutral.
Examples of religion-neutral practices include: naming the celebration(s) "Holiday Celebration" or "Winter Celebration;"
using general greetings such as "Happy Holidays" or "Holiday Greetings;"
using decorations that are commonplace - poinsettias, evergreen boughs, lights - but not using religious symbols nor practices; and
obtaining the concurrence of all affected employees prior to holding a holiday social and/or food gathering. Care should be taken that employees who do not concur with holding a gathering are protected from retaliation.
Cultural information sharing about various religious holidays in the name of diversity is allowable when it is done in the context of employee education and is inclusive of various religious celebrations such as Ramadan, Hanukkah, Christmas, etc.
I encourage you to contact Maria Batayola, at (206) 263-7380, should you have any questions and/or comments.
cc: Robert S. Derrick, Director, Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM)
Maria Batayola, Manager, Diversity Management Division, OHRM
King County Executive, RON SIMS
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