Wishing you tidings of joy this Christmas!

We wish you a wonderful holiday and may the joy of the holiday season stretch on into the new year.

With the festive season is upon us and the end of the year near, it's time we reflect on the past year and commit to shaping the HR industry in 2018 by championing progressive practices that build workplaces that celebrate teamwork, talent, and togetherness.

The team at Human Resources wishes you a fantastic holiday and a New Year filled with peace and prosperity for both your personal and professional life. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to the years to come.

For those who would like to getting their fix of HR related festive reading, here are some of our top stories for this season.

1. Will you hold a holiday party this year?

As the year comes to an end, the one question constantly on employees’ minds are – will there be a party?

According to a new survey by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, nearly 77.3% of companies planned to host holiday parties this year – just slightly lower than last year’s 80%.

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2. Checklist: Will you meet these 12 personalities at your office party?

As we approach the holiday season, it’s time to start thinking about what gifts you’ll be getting your colleagues, and how you’re going to navigate the annual office holiday party.

Now depending on the culture at your company and the people you work with, you might be looking forward to this festive occasion. However, there are likely some typical characters that you’ll find at every office party, and GetVoIP has put together some of these in an infographic.

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3. 10 cringeworthy things managers have done at holiday parties

While turning a dance contest into a brawl, using obscene language and throwing food on the floor may seem more like scenes from a rough weekend, they are in fact from a corporate holiday party.

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4. 9 ways that the office holiday party needs to be policed

With the festive season upon us, many HR professionals have been tasked with planning the perfect holiday party.

While these parties are a good time to thank employees for a job well done, XpertHR pointed outthat such celebrations may carry a great deal of risk for employers – from claims of religious discrimination and sexual harassment to drunk driving.

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5. All I want for Christmas… employees reveal

“Tis the season to be merry” or is it? Staffing firm Randstad recently released a survey detailing employees workplace preferences and attitudes towards the festive season. For some, it really is the most joyous time of the year but for others, it’s a minefield of whom to buy a gift for and make small talk with at the year-end holiday party.

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6. To gift or not to gift? That is the question

It’s about the time of the year where we rack our brains for holiday gift ideas for our coworkers. With Christmas being less than three weeks away, many organisations are starting to throw their year end holiday parties. Along with that comes the dreaded question – to gift or not to gift?

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7. White lies colleagues tell around the office Christmas tree

If a colleague says “you shouldn’t have” when opening your gift, you may want to double check if you still have the receipt –  their inner thoughts might be whispering “No really, you shouldn’t have!” Here are 10 common phrases gift recipients use and what they actually mean.

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8. 10 things you shouldn’t give colleagues this Christmas

Have you ever received a gift from a colleague you’re not quite sure what to do with? Well, you’re not alone.

According to a study on 2,000 adults commissioned by Vistaprint UK via OnePoll.com, almost six in 10 people receive up to five presents each Christmas which they then never use.

Common culprits of giving such gifts, include the in-laws, aunties, sisters, and (you guessed it!) work colleagues.

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9. Are holiday bonuses becoming more scarce?

As the year-end holiday approaches and staff are hopping to receive a bonus, the question on HR leaders’ minds is – to give, or not to give?

According to Accounting Principals’ annual Holiday Bonus and Hiring Survey, this year, only 63% of HR or hiring managers indicated their company plans to give its employees a monetary holiday bonus, down from 75% in 2016.

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10. The holiday season is the most popular time for taking MC

According to a new CareerBuilder survey, the month where most employees call in sick is December (21%) followed by July (16%) and January (14%). While the most popular day of the week to call in sick is Monday (48%) followed by Friday (26%) – did any of your employees call in sick today?

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If you enjoyed these stories, be sure to keep up with the latest news and conversations in HR by following Human Resources on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or signing up for our daily HR Bulletin.

Happy holidays and warm wishes for 2017!

Photo / 123RF