The complaints begin each year in October about ‘Holiday Creep’ where stores bring out holiday decorations, sales and music earlier and earlier. This year, however, the holidays ARE actually earlier. Due to the Jewish lunar calendar and the timing of Thanksgiving, the first night of Chanukah occurs on Thanksgiving. No one we have spoken to can recall this ever happening before and, yet, here we are.
With this in mind, business owners need to be especially aware of religious observations this time of year and to treat them all with equal respect. If a company does not close on Christmas, then there is no need to close for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, etc. However, the company should offer equal time off for religious observance across all religions unless it wants to risk a potential EEOC claim by disgruntled employees.
