Can I raise a grieveance against my HR Manager for not recognising Christmas

[armanimick]

I work in a hotel with lots of nationalities and festivals such as Diwali / Ramadan / Spanish Day / St Patricks etc are celebrated / recognised ( St Georges Day however) is never on a "calendar"

Each year we have a Christmas Party which since our HR Manager started she insists on calling it the "end of year party" and "festive lunch" in an effort not to offend certain nationalities. The lady in question is a practising catholic and Irish and I raise this yearly with her geting into hot discussions over it...

We are supposed to respect other peoples cultures are we not.

Today yet another presentation was done, witht he words "Festive Lunch / end of year party and I am offended.

My friend, also in HR is a Jehovah's Witness can't get involved in anything Christmas but with the words Festive / End of Year she can... and this is the reason I suspect they insist on not using the word Christmas.

Whats right and whats wrong. I simply want our annual Christmas Party and Christmas Lunch to be recognised for what it is....

[Prudentia]

she missed her vocation, she should have been a traffic warden,

[paddywak]

Basically if you're a white, British born, christian you're wrong, anything else and you are OK

[baileybird]

I am not a christian so therefore would not be offended by calling it an end of year celebration. Why not if it means that everyone can then join in the fun. Christmas is supposedly to celebrate the birth of Christian's Lord so unless you are a practicing christian what's with the bother?

[Postdog]

I quite agree with the stupidity of sacrificing OUR traditions at the risk of offending others - this is political correctness gone too far, and I object to knowing that other cultures can openly celebrate this that and the other whilst we have to pretend ours don't exist.

I am not a Christian either, but Christmas is Christmas - our queen is the head of the church, it has been our "religion" for years, and if foreign traditions are worth celebrating, then so are ours.

[philandlil]

Hire a stripping santa for the party in her name, that will annoy her.

[THECORBYLOON]

What is the connexion between not using the word "Christmas" and nationality? I may be wrong but I believe that foreign folk celebrate Christmas too.

[paddywak]

This isn't just about christmas it;s about the loss of our national identity. If I go to live abroad I would be expected to conform to, and respect the local laws and traditions,they wouldn't be altered to suit me. In this country the PC brigade seem to think that the reverse should happen and hundreds of years of tradition and history should be forgotten. I've nothing against people practising there own religion and customs, after all religious and political freedom is something people in this country have fought and died for, but not at the expense of our national traditons and values

[Goodsoulette]

If there is not going to be any religious ceremony to it why not be christian about it and accept the name change so that everyone can attend. Here the issue is a Jehovas Witness, has she not worked all year? should she not be rewarded for her efforts? I don't see the issue here at all.

If its a knees up where you all celebrate the birth of Christ, receive communion and take turns reading appropriate bible passages and singing hymns, then fair play, give it the Christmas label. If like most Christmas parties it involves letting your hair down, dancing to crap music and maybe pulling a cracker before you eat some dried up turkey as a little thankyou from your company for the work you have done over the year then I'd drop it. It should be for everyone.