And don't forget that some employees - most notably, Jehovah's Witnesses - do not believe in having parties at all. Make sure that employees of all faiths (and non-believers, too) know that they are welcome at your party. I love the idea of including Chanukah decorations with Christmas decorations when Chanukah is occurring around the same time. Santa ( the Coca-Cola Santa, not the real St. Trees, greenery, and lights should be fine. If you're a private employer, then go ahead and call the party what you want, but be sensitive to employees who are not Christians. The First Amendment prohibits governments from establishing a "state religion." If a tree with lights is good enough for Rockefeller Center, then it's good enough for you. Although city and county governments get sued for things like putting Nativity scenes in the town square, that's because they are governments. Is it against the law to call our party a "Christmas party"?
They aren't called "better halves" for nothing - they will frequently be forces for moderation.
#JEHOVAH WITNESS BELIEFS CHRISTMAS TREES FREE#
There is probably no way to eliminate the risk of liability (assuming that alcohol is going to be served), but you can minimize risks by doing some or all of the following: (1) paying for cabs to take impaired employees home, (2) having the party at a hotel, or within walking distance of a hotel, and providing rooms for anyone who may not be able to get home safely, (3) having designated drivers, (4) having a cash bar with drinks so expensive that your employees won't want more than a couple (but be prepared to be called a cheapskate if you do this), (5) closing the bar after about two hours, and (6) serving lots of free food to soak up all that booze.Īnother good thing to do, if you can afford it, is invite spouses and significant others to the party. What can an employer do to make sure that it isn't liable for a drunk driving accident after a workplace party? And you thought it was love of money.Įmployers having parties where drinks are served need to do what they can to protect intoxicated guests and their potential victims. Alcohol (1) loosens inhibitions, which can result in sexual harassment, inappropriate comments, or fighting, and (2) impairs judgment and reaction times, which can result in accidents when guests leave the party. I would say crystal meth, except that the employers I know don't typically serve it at their parties. What do you consider to be the Number One risk factor for employer liability resulting from workplace holiday parties? If you weren't there and would still like to hear it, please do. "It's not even Black Friday, Charlie Brown!"Īnd, as luck would have it, I presented a webinar on Wednesday with David Weisenfeld of XpertHR on "How to Make Your Workplace Holiday Party Sparkle - With No Legal Hangovers," and got some great questions from the attendees. A reference to a pillar as an idol is seen, for example, in Deuteronomy 7:5:īut thus you shall deal with them: you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and hew down their Ashe’rim, and burn their graven images with fire (cf.Yeah, yeah - I know it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, but you are planning your holiday party now, and you want answers to your burning questions while you still have time to do something about it. The pillar is also almost certainly a reference to an idol. And you shall not set up a pillar, which the LORD your God hates.Īshe’rah was a Canaanite mother-goddess, associated with Baal and worshiped as an idol, through an image of some sort (see many Old Testament references). It is replacing God with some mere created thing.ĭeuteronomy 16:21-22 You shall not plant any tree as an Ashe’rah beside the altar of the LORD your God which you shall make. It is thoroughly misguided thinking, and neglects the underlying idea that is being condemned. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who worships a Christmas tree and regards it as a god or a replacement for the true God.
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