Few things are as infamous and stressful for Black Employees than the workplace holiday party.
Few things in the work environment are as infamous as the workplace holiday party. Whether it is potluck-style shared over lunch, an evening affair complete with an open bar, or a team-building experience featuring a gift exchange, for Black employees, these celebrations bring up a variety of emotions and feelings of discomfort.
While it is true that Black people are social, communal, and welcoming, what is often missing from this analysis is with who.
Black people are more likely to let their hair down with their family and close friends, individuals who have earned their trust and access to their less-guarded state. This state of being is rarely if ever, afforded to coworkers, especially in a work-sponsored setting.
I appreciate the reasoning behind workplace holiday celebrations. I work in internal communications and believe celebrating with employees is an important component in creating connections to the overall mission and goals of the organization. However, not understanding the additional emotional burden it puts on Black people and thinking of ways to mitigate it is a missed opportunity.
Organizations are avoiding holiday gatherings this year due to the pandemic. However, I would be remiss if I did not highlight some common offenders and alternative ideas that organizations can consider for a post-pandemic world.
The dreaded potluck with questionable recipes
- “I’ll never forget the time one of my coworkers opened a can of corn, poured it in a bowl, added some butter, and decided to serve it at the company’s potluck.” Jo, Philadelphia.
- “We used to have a chili cook-off at work, and someone created something they labeled chili it, but it featured mentos. That was a major hell no for me!” Anonymous
- “There’s always that one coworker who spends her time creating recipes just in time for the office potluck, and no one ever eats it. It’s because very rarely can we identify what the dish is!” Anonymous, Philadelphia
- “One word, CATS.” Black people everywhere.
On the list of things that Black people take seriously, food is in the top three. We have rules for gatherings that include food with our own families, so the idea that we are getting ready to partake in a free-for-all with our coworkers is laughable. We also rank cleanliness very high. We have seen your photos with your pets walking across kitchen counters, tasting your dishes, sleeping in your beds, and kissing your lips. We don’t do that here. In short, even when we show up, we don’t actually participate in the potlucks.
We usually have a secret meeting with the other Black employees and create an alternative potluck that is created by us, for us and hidden from y’all.
Potlucks provide organizations with limited capital a cost-effective way to celebrate however, there are other options that don’t require your staff to be responsible for feeding each other. Consider catering breakfast or lunch. These meals typically have a lower cost per person than dinner. Additionally, this provides you with the opportunity to be a good corporate citizen by supporting a small catering company in your area. They can also be more flexible in their pricing.
The alcohol-filled party
- “I’ll never forget my coworker telling me that after I left the holiday celebration, she passed out drunk and was driven home by another coworker whom she also cussed out.” Anonymous, Philadelphia.
- “My boss thought a good team-building exercise for us would be taking shots as a team at the company party.” Anonymous
I’m not here to debate whether or not libation-filled drinks should be allowed at workplace gatherings. I do think it’s worth considering how having alcohol at workplace gatherings impacts people in recovery, individuals who are not comfortable around alcohol, or people who don’t want to drink with their colleagues but feel forced to.
Boundaries are a thing, and for Black people, nothing demonstrates the respectability divide at work than drinking. White colleagues can get shi*t-faced and still be considered for a promotion. A Black person who is deemed as having too much to drink, regardless of how much was consumed, risks disciplinary actions. Not drinking or pretending to drink can also be perceived as not being a team player.
In short, being forced to do shots with the CEO is NOT my idea of a good time.
If you have the capital to offer an open bar at your holiday function, then I’m almost willing to bet you have the money to provide an experiential event for your staff. One of my favorite workplace celebrations included a specially-curated magic show at one of the local theaters. The evening featured heavy appetizers, the show, a small giveaway, and a kick-back afterward. Even if food and drinks weren’t provided, I would have still enjoyed the evening because it was different and entertaining. I’ve also worked at an organization that rented out a theater where we were able to see the latest Blockbuster movie as a team without having to compete for tickets with the general public.
Other lower-cost options that don’t have to include alcohol include paint parties, cooking demonstrations, or behind-the-scenes tours of local attractions.
White Elephants, Secret Santa, and other crazy gift-exchanges
According to this article, the history of the White Elephant gift exchange comes from a former king of Thailand who would give rare albino elephants to people he did not like. They were expensive to care for, impossible to give away, and the upkeep could be a real financial burden on the recipient. In the workplace, the White Elephant gift exchange causes coworkers to compete for gifts to avoid being stuck with the worst of the gag gifts. Gag gifts are meant to be funny, but like so many other things, humor is subjective, and what is funny to one person may be offensive to another and can unintentionally land people in the HR office.
I’ve had my fair share of bad experiences which is why I advocate for ending this horrendous practice. There was the year I ended up with holey socks and considering the gifts I’ve heard others receive, I ended up with the better of the gifts.
- “I received a blanket covered in dog hair.” Anonymous, Charlotte, N.C.
- “A single packet of swiss miss hot chocolate.” Anonymous
- “[I received] a butt plug.” Anonymous
Yea, NO!
Secret Santa’s are no better. They ask employees to purchase a gift for a colleague that is worth at least a certain amount. This is classists, no matter how small the minimum contribution amount. For some $10 is nothing, for others, it may mean foregoing gas for the week.
If organizations are looking to give something to their employees, it shouldn’t be the responsibility of the individual to fund. Not everyone can pay bonuses, but what about an extra day off or an extra few hours of PTO? Consider purchasing an exclusive piece of company swag for the staff, or have the CEO hand-write cards to each employee thanking them for their contribution. Gift-giving at the organizational level doesn’t need to be pricey; it just needs to be thoughtful and unique.
Dispatches from the Plantation is a blog that chronicles the workplace experience from the perspective of Black people and the things we wish organizations would stop doing.
If you have an interesting workplace story to share, shoot us an email. If you’re a workplace interested in creating a work environment that is truly inclusive and beneficial to all, email Laniece.Williams@gmail.com.
