What cultural holidays taught me about belonging in the workplace

What cultural holidays taught me about belonging in the workplace

If this is neglected, so is your company

Photo by: Pouya Jabbarisani

3 min read

As an Iranian American, I grew up celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Unlike holidays such as Christmas, however, it was never recognized as an excused reason to miss school. Missing one day of class at seven years old did not hurt my grades, but it left me feeling out of place. Not something you want to feel at that age. I remember treating the real reason I was absent almost like a secret because I worried my classmates would not understand it. For a holiday being a fundamental part of my identity, that feeling stayed with me for years.

Over time, that experience affected more than my attendance. It affected my motivation. When an important part of my identity felt like it did not matter, school no longer gave me a sense of belonging.

As I got older, I realized that this struggle does not disappear after graduation. The same challenge follows many people into college and eventually into the workplace, creating a hidden tension no one really talks about.

Yes, I know, I’m only a student. How would I know about the workplace? Fair question. My answer is simple. I grew up watching it happen. For years, my dad worked at a company that consistently refused to let him take time off work for our annual Nowruz celebration.

I understand that, realistically speaking, companies cannot close for every holiday celebrated around the world. That would be impossible. Natwest, a banking company, understands this reality, noting that closing the office for every occasion is not the most practical approach. What I am suggesting is much simpler, however. To recognize that employees come from a wide range of backgrounds and make room for their unique traditions. The article suggests that it can be as simple as being curious to learn more by asking questions about different cultures and celebrating with thoughtful decorations at the workplace.

Photo by: Yunus Tuğ

This is not just my opinion. According to a Pew Research survey, 56% of workers view DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts at the workplace positively. The majority of employees already see the value of acknowledging different backgrounds. With this in mind, the ball is in the court of the HR sector of companies. Their decisions truly reflect on the company’s sense of stability.

For many employees, cultural holidays are considered a connection to their community and their overall personal identity. When these holidays are acknowledged by employers, employees are reminded that they too are valued for who they really are rather than only for the work they produce.

We can see this through the fact that the acknowledgement of various holidays through simple recognition “positively influences work outcomes”, making employees feel valued. Recognizing holidays employees celebrate can motivate workers, strengthen the workplace culture, and help the employees’ overall sense of belonging. To me, that is a win-win for both employers and employees!

Photo by: Vitaly Gariev