As many of you may know, I first created The Cubicle Chick in order to blog about and discuss workplace matters. And while I have deviated a little away from that as I have abandoned the cubicle, I still like to touch on workplace matters, conflict, and issues. During the holidays, I have found as a previous human resources manager, that the holiday time brings a lot of challenging fodder in the workplace—this includes the matter of how far some employees take the holiday season. And how some employees don’t take too kindly to that.
Many offices have rules in place when it comes to decorating your office or cubicle. The decorations cannot be offensive or vile, cannot disrespect others, and cannot impede another person’s workspace. I once worked in an office where a woman brought a large poster of baby Jesus in the manger, and taped it up against her cubicle, leaving some of the poster to hang on her neighbor’s space. She was horrified when she was asked to take it down.
There was also the employee who brought in a 4 foot tree and put it in the walkway where others were trying to pass. He got upset that people complained.
So, the question is this: to decorate or not decorate the cubicle?
I am all for celebrating the holiday, but going overboard in the office is not professional. I, for one, used to hang up the holiday cards I received in the office on my cubicle wall. That, for me, was enough. It brought a nice touch to my workspace, but wasn’t overdone. It didn’t break any rules and didn’t impede on anyone else’s space.
But you will always have the one employee who goes a little too far with their decorations. You will also have the one employee who is offended by such a show of “religiousness”.
When in doubt, I say don’t decorate at all.
Of course, any pictures of religious affiliation (as in the example above of baby Jesus in the manger) is usually not a suitable decoration in the workplace.
What are your office stories regarding holiday decorations? Do you decorate your office or cubicle, or do you leave it be? Please use the comment section to give me your feedback.
It’s so interesting that you posted this topic today because our office just moved into a new building and someone was telling me that my desk needs some decoration. Currently the only personal item on my desk is a lamp and I’m ok with that.
Anyway, I don’t mind how people decorate INSIDE their cubicle. Feel free to hang baby Jesus, pine wreaths, santa and the 12 reindeer or install a 25ft high tree at your desk, but when you start encroaching on your neighbor’s space too much is probably going on.
I don’t decorate my cube, but if I did I would keep in in my cube. I think Jesus, manger all that is fine. I see Ganesh everywhere so trust and believe I would have a manger up in here LOL