|
Osnaživanje, stil i inspiracija spajaju se u svakom izdanju našeg magazina.
|
December 26, 2025
The holiday season is always a challenging time in the workplace. Business and personal lives inevitably overlap, as we try to wrap up projects and tasks before the end of the year while holiday celebrations unfold in parallel. Although the atmosphere may feel more relaxed than usual and the boundaries of professional rules may seem blurred, this is precisely when respecting business etiquette becomes most important.
The following guidelines can help you prepare for and navigate the holiday season at work with greater ease.
From late December through mid-January, work rhythms naturally slow down across most industries. Annual leave, reduced working hours, and the closing of ongoing obligations all contribute to this shift. The core principle remains the same: expecting immediate responses, major decisions, or urgent involvement in new projects during this period is a direct breach of professional etiquette. Even worse, such behavior signals poor planning and an inability to organize business obligations ahead of the holiday season. A professional approach is to send a message or email clearly stating that a response is not urgent and that the matter can be addressed after the holidays. This kind of phrasing does not diminish the importance of the topic—it demonstrates understanding and respect for other people’s time.
Business holiday greetings should be brief, neutral, and unobtrusive. Their purpose is clear: to bring collaboration to a close for the year and maintain a professional relationship in a warm yet neutral tone. They are not a space for personal confessions, excessive emotional expression, or hidden business messages. A greeting that includes appreciation for the cooperation and good wishes for the coming year is considered a professional gesture. On the other hand, messages that introduce expectations for January, new projects, or upcoming obligations may feel like unnecessary pressure at a time when people are trying to disconnect from work.
Inclusive language is especially important in professional communication during the holidays. Not everyone celebrates the same holidays, and some do not observe them at all, which is why assumptions about others’ traditions, beliefs, or time off can feel exclusionary or inappropriate. A neutral and thoughtful communication style is therefore a sign of professional maturity. Using general, inclusive expressions such as Happy Holidays allows the message to remain warm and friendly without imposing a cultural or religious framework. This approach clearly communicates respect for diversity—an essential value in today’s global business environment.
In modern business culture, gifts are no longer a standard part of holiday etiquette. In many organizations, they are even discouraged, particularly in hierarchical relationships. When gifts are exchanged, they should be symbolic, discreet, and equal for everyone to avoid creating a sense of obligation or favoritism. When in doubt, a simple holiday card or a thank-you email remains the safest and most professional choice.
The holiday season is not the right time for criticism, conflict, performance evaluations, or assigning additional work that must be completed by year’s end. Such conversations tend to leave a lasting negative impression and rarely produce meaningful business outcomes. If a topic is unavoidable, professionalism means keeping it brief and clearly stating that details will be discussed after the holidays.
A common holiday-season misstep is attempting to compensate for poor planning by relying on other people’s availability. Requests that begin with “I know it’s the holidays, but…” are almost always perceived as disrespectful, regardless of tone. Professional etiquette requires planning deadlines in advance or openly acknowledging that something can wait until January. People may not react immediately, but they will remember in the long run who respected their time and personal boundaries.
An out-of-office auto-reply during the holidays is a sign of responsibility. It sets clear expectations and protects both parties from frustration. A professionally written auto-reply that states when someone will return and when they can respond to messages contributes to clarity and reduces unnecessary pressure in communication.
Holiday or end-of-year celebrations organized by the company or attended with business partners remain professional events, regardless of the relaxed atmosphere. Dress code, alcohol consumption, conversation topics, and behavior all remain part of one’s professional image. Many career missteps do not happen in the office itself, but at events like these—when boundaries are forgotten under the excuse of holiday cheer.
Photo: Dupephotos.com
