Employees at the Swedish state-owned steel giant SSAB are being told not to wish their colleagues “Merry Christmas” – because, according to management, this risks making everyone feel “not included and respected”.
Instead, staff are encouraged to say “happy holidays” or similar more politically correct phrases to ensure that no one is offended or offended.
“It is important to recognize that our colleagues may celebrate different holidays. December is a month filled with different cultural, religious and secular holidays celebrated all over the world. By using ‘happy holidays’ or saying both, ‘Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays’, we can ensure that everyone feels included and respected, no matter what they believe in”, the company writes on its intranet.
In the US, it has long been the practice in many workplaces to replace the classic Christmas greeting “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” – precisely because of the notion that the latter greeting is more neutral and positive, and the American trend seems to be becoming established in Sweden as well.
SSAB employees are also given other tips by management on how to create “an inclusive Christmas”, including encouraging them “not to take for granted that everyone celebrates the same holidays as they do”.
Furthermore, managers at the Swedish steel giant believe that, in the run-up to Christmas, staff should take the opportunity to “deepen their knowledge of other holidays and traditions” and that, instead of “after Christmas”, they should say “after the holidays” or “at the beginning of the year”.
In particular, it stresses that workers should not be led to believe that Christmas has a special place in December, but that the holiday is in fact “rich in festivities from different cultures and religions”.
“Betrayal of our culture”
The company’s call for its employees to change their Christmas greetings has gone viral, causing widespread irritation and anger across the country – partly because many consider it deeply inappropriate for managers to try to control the thoughts and language of staff – but also because Christmas is one of the most important Swedish holidays and it is highly unclear why this should offend anyone living here.
“We are living in a time where we must protect Swedish culture and traditions to the highest degree. The fact that a partly state-owned company like SSAB proposes to replace “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” to “include” others, is nothing but a betrayal of our own culture”, the Sweden Democrats commented on Facebook.
“We should not adapt to those who do not share our traditions; those who are here should instead show respect for Swedish Christmas and our cultural heritage. In Sweden we say Merry Christmas. Period”, they add.
Several of the company’s employees also let it be known that they find the call downright ridiculous and intend to continue saying “Merry Christmas” – regardless of what management has to say about it. Despite this, the company’s press secretary claims that the announcement has been met with mostly positive reactions.
