Practice Management Alert

Question: We are a large practice with more than 30 employees. With the holidays coming up, we need to address decorations and staff activities at our office. In order to be inclusive, we want to have activities and decorations that don’t make anyone feel left out, regardless of their religious affiliation (or non-affiliation). So how do we decorate the office so as to make everyone feel included?

Texas Subscriber

Answer: There are a number of factors that can figure into how medical offices handle holiday decor. The office should still look like a place of business, so you don’t want to overdo it. At the same time, you don’t want to completely ignore the holiday season. Also, you don’t want to offend anyone (patients included) with displays that seem to favor a certain faith or denomination.

Check out these nondenominational décor/event ideas from allbusiness.com:

• Bring the outside inside: Fir, pine, and holly are great winter plants that can provide a tasteful acknowledgement of the season. “Bunches of white flowers grouped with pine and holly and tied with a festive bow inspire thoughts of seasonal celebration without calling to mind any particular holiday,” according to allbusiness.com.
• Stay neutral: The best way to be sensitive while decorating for the holidays is to avoid any color that is associated with a particular holiday. For example, you’ll want to eschew red and green (Christmas) and blue and white (Hanukkah). Instead, decorate the office with gold and silver foil, tinsel, and ribbons.
• Feed the people: Candy, cookies, and cakes available at every turn during the holidays doesn’t send the proper message for a medical office, and it’s unhealthy for employees. Opt instead for fresh seasonal fruits like apples, pears, and citrus. “Oranges studded with cloves are both lovely and imbue the air with a festive scent,” allbusiness.com explains.