All personal stories are told by Susan, a retired nurse.
Some people enjoy a celebration, and they don't need an excuse to have one. Workplace celebrations are not uncommon, although at times they can get slightly out of hand. At one point, you can have a birthday, good-bye-good-luck, and congratulations celebration all going on at one time.
I once worked for a hospice company that employed about 100 people, 7 of whom worked in my area. My first day at work I was informed one employee was getting married, and they were collecting donations for her honeymoon. I didn't even know this person yet, but I'm a team player, so I contributed $20. Two days later I was handed a tin can with birthday candles on it. My co-worker explained it was a birthday, and a collection was underway for a gift card. Again, I went along; after all, I was new. When the birthday came, we all went out to lunch to celebrate her birthday, and everyone chipped in to buy her lunch, and then a cake afterwards. By this time, I'd worked there 1 week, and spent $80 on “celebrations”. I wish I could say it subsided, but it didn't. So-and-so did not have a baby, but her baby turned one, and of course there was a gift fund, and this person was from another office. I'd not met her at all. This whole donating for celebrations continued on, and with a workforce of 100 people, there was always something to celebrate. The long lunchtime celebrations and recognition during the work day were too much in my opinion. After 3 months of working with the party-goers, I realized this was not the work environment for me, and I turned in my notice. During an exit interview, I brought the celebrations up, and the human resource department was totally unaware. No one had ever spoken up. The fact is, others felt the same way I did, but felt obligated to participate. The employee gatherings had to be costing that company a fortune just to acknowledge every achievement a staff or their family made. I moved on, and I'm not sure what became of the company, but I don't see how they could have continued in the way they were.
Related: Patients and Food
Workplace Celebrations
Recognizing special days can be nice, however, as, you just read, it can easily be extreme. It's a safe bet most people do not need a plate full of sugar on a regular basis, and the collecting of money is a bad idea, and makes some people feel obligated. If given the opportunity, offer some suggestions when it comes to workplace celebrations.
- Consider others, not every wants to partake in the festivities.
- Some people may have religious affiliations that prevent them from celebrating. Event and event can make them feel uncomfortable.
- Making coworkers feel obligated to donate money is not only unfair, but most likely against rules of the company.
Suggest a monthly celebration for anyone that had a birthday that month, and designate a place such as a break area for anyone that would like to share and have a piece of cake. Make it clear in the invite it will be a fifteen-minute gathering, and then it's back to work. It's not being a party pooper; it's just doing the right thing and respecting your employer.
Related: The top 10 Qualities of the best Nurses
For extra special occasions, suggest an after-work gathering. Send out an open invite to anyone that wants to attend, and that way no one is obligated. It's fair for everyone. If you feel as though you are obligated to donate to celebration funds, or that workplace gatherings are taking up too much work time, speak up to your human resource department. That actually is your obligation for the sake of the patients.
Related: Acclaimed Registered Nurse Jodie Tremblay, RN, ASCN, will be Highlighted in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare
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Some people enjoy a celebration, and they don't need an excuse to have one. Workplace celebrations are not uncommon, although at times they can get slightly out of hand. At one point, you can have a birthday, good-bye-good-luck, and congratulations celebration all going on at one time.
I once worked for a hospice company that employed about 100 people, 7 of whom worked in my area. My first day at work I was informed one employee was getting married, and they were collecting donations for her honeymoon. I didn't even know this person yet, but I'm a team player, so I contributed $20. Two days later I was handed a tin can with birthday candles on it. My co-worker explained it was a birthday, and a collection was underway for a gift card. Again, I went along; after all, I was new. When the birthday came, we all went out to lunch to celebrate her birthday, and everyone chipped in to buy her lunch, and then a cake afterwards. By this time, I'd worked there 1 week, and spent $80 on “celebrations”. I wish I could say it subsided, but it didn't. So-and-so did not have a baby, but her baby turned one, and of course there was a gift fund, and this person was from another office. I'd not met her at all. This whole donating for celebrations continued on, and with a workforce of 100 people, there was always something to celebrate. The long lunchtime celebrations and recognition during the work day were too much in my opinion. After 3 months of working with the party-goers, I realized this was not the work environment for me, and I turned in my notice. During an exit interview, I brought the celebrations up, and the human resource department was totally unaware. No one had ever spoken up. The fact is, others felt the same way I did, but felt obligated to participate. The employee gatherings had to be costing that company a fortune just to acknowledge every achievement a staff or their family made. I moved on, and I'm not sure what became of the company, but I don't see how they could have continued in the way they were.
Related: Patients and Food
Workplace Celebrations
Recognizing special days can be nice, however, as, you just read, it can easily be extreme. It's a safe bet most people do not need a plate full of sugar on a regular basis, and the collecting of money is a bad idea, and makes some people feel obligated. If given the opportunity, offer some suggestions when it comes to workplace celebrations.
- Consider others, not every wants to partake in the festivities.
- Some people may have religious affiliations that prevent them from celebrating. Event and event can make them feel uncomfortable.
- Making coworkers feel obligated to donate money is not only unfair, but most likely against rules of the company.
Suggest a monthly celebration for anyone that had a birthday that month, and designate a place such as a break area for anyone that would like to share and have a piece of cake. Make it clear in the invite it will be a fifteen-minute gathering, and then it's back to work. It's not being a party pooper; it's just doing the right thing and respecting your employer.
Related: The top 10 Qualities of the best Nurses
For extra special occasions, suggest an after-work gathering. Send out an open invite to anyone that wants to attend, and that way no one is obligated. It's fair for everyone. If you feel as though you are obligated to donate to celebration funds, or that workplace gatherings are taking up too much work time, speak up to your human resource department. That actually is your obligation for the sake of the patients.
Related: Acclaimed Registered Nurse Jodie Tremblay, RN, ASCN, will be Highlighted in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare
Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest, Twitter
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