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Drive to make Christmas inclusive in the workplace

ended 12. December 2025

A journalist at The Daily Telegraph is writing a feature on how workplaces approach Christmas - including why some organisations now refer to it as the “winter season” and how many are making a conscious effort to create more inclusive celebrations.

She is looking for commentary from an HR expert on inclusive workplace policies, specifically discussing the growing move to make Christmas festivities more inclusive and the reasons behind this shift.
 


 

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Editor
Kate Underwood
Founder & Chief People Strategist at Kate Underwood HR and Training
If your Christmas do makes even one person feel like an outsider, that’s not festive. That’s a leadership problem. More workplaces are using “winter season” because teams aren’t one-size-fits-all anymore. You’ll have people of different faiths, no faith, different cultures, and some who simply don’t want religion baked into work socials. And in the UK, this isn’t just about being ‘nice’. Under the Equality Act, religion or belief is protected. If someone feels excluded, pressured to join in, or gets the “oh go on, don’t be boring” treatment, you can drift into discrimination or harassment faster than you think.
This shift isn’t about cancelling Christmas. It’s about keeping the fun without making anyone feel like a spare part. Inclusive celebrations mean choice: the wording, the food, the format, the vibe. Not everyone drinks. Not everyone celebrates. Not everyone wants a late-night knees-up with their boss. You can keep the tinsel and still run it like a modern workplace.