Page 6 - December 2020

THE HR PERSPECTIVE

money on a party? Could this spell the end of the These are interesting questions to be sure. Some
Christmas do? Is it a breach of GDPR to send gifts benefits, including annual trips abroad, are written as
to employees’ homes without their permission? Can being contractual rather than discretionary. We hope
employees have colleagues addresses to send them that most employees are reasonable and
cards or presents? If we can’t do this, take all the fun understanding of the situation. Employees have to
or surprise out of Christmas? understand it’s not only about social distancing or
Can a Zoom party be a success or be the opposite lockdown but also a desperate time for many
of maintaining team motivation and morale if it’s businesses.
not there in the first place? We need answers to so Is it wrong to spend thousands on Christmas gifts
many questions. Whilst many companies may or bonuses if the situation forced companies to make via Pexels
already have their plans in place, others are going to a large number of redundancies (according to its
have some very disappointed employees. Employees correspondence)? Whilst those in the hospitality and Image: Sirirak Boonruangjak
spend many months looking forward to their travel industries have arguably been hit the hardest;
Christmas party and gifts. Are employees who there are fewer and fewer industries who have not
received Christmas presents and parties for the been negatively affected by COVID-19 or the ‘2020
entirety of their employment entitled to these effect’, as it will inevitably be called.
benefits? Are they entitled to their substitutes to the The issue isn’t necessarily about the answers to
same value? Does this become custom and practice? these questions. It is in ensuring that companies are at
least asking these questions, and understand the ‘hot

3 D L P . O R G . U K

spots’in the first place. For anyone with any questions,