Welcome to the first in our “12 tips to Christmas!” This is a mini survival guide which both business owners and employees may find useful to get them through the festive season without too much trouble!
Tip 1 – Decorations!
As we hit the month of December, many of us will be getting ready to put up our festive decorations and Christmas trees at the weekend. Similarly, we may also want to inject a bit of Christmas cheer into the working environment and decorate the office in tinsel too! However, you may not be surprised to learn that something such as Christmas decorations can raise many issues for employers to consider before they deck the halls with boughs of holly!
One issue which commonly arises is health and safety. There are some employers who believe that putting up Christmas decorations breaches health and safety legislation, and therefore they leave the office looking rather sparse during the festive season. However, provided that the proper risk assessments are carried out and consideration is given as to where and how to place decorations to avoid fire hazards, the risk of falling foul of health and safety legislation is minimised. It is a good idea however, to ensure that electrical equipment is tested as some insurance policies do not cover damage caused by untested electrical equipment. So, a good tip, make sure those Christmas tree lights are turned off before you lock up the office for an evening!
The other question which we are often asked by employers is whether putting up Christmas decorations is a breach of the religious discrimination provisions in the Equality Act 2010. Decorations such as tinsel, lights and trees are not inherently religious, and in our view, it would be difficult to argue that they cause offence to non-Christians.
So, as you decorate the office, bear these tips in mind!