The winter holidays are coming to a close, but it’s never too early to begin thinking about next year with our curated selection of articles about the pitfalls of holiday partying, decorating, and gift-giving in the workplace.

Next, is your New Year’s resolution to improve your employer brand? We follow with one cautionary tale and one piece of inspiration you can use in your quest to be an employer of choice, along with pieces on preventing two culture-killers: burnout and bad behaviors.

It’s Party Season

Despite the risk of liability from alcohol-related incidents, three-quarters of companies were planning holiday parties this year, an increase of 10 percent over last year. What was different this year over last, when the prevalence of parties was low? Read more on Marketplace.

Too Much Eggnog?

Chipotle, which offers paid sick days, has adopted a program where a nurse calls some employees who are out sick to find out if they have a hangover or something worse that could be passed along to customers. This controversial measure is intended to promote food safety. Read more on Business Insider.

The Gift of Appreciation

Does your company have rules about gift-giving in the workplace? A survey showed that 40 percent of workers wished gifts were off-limits. If gifts are exchanged in your office, follow these eight tips to get it right. Read more on USAToday.

Oh, Christmas Tree

Is it OK to put up a Christmas tree at work? The “Ask a Manager” advice columnist says yes, if you don’t try to frame it in a way that denies the symbol’s religious connotations or push the observance of Christmas on employees who don’t celebrate the holiday. Read more on Ask a Manager.

Trust Beats Fear

A culture of trust is clearly preferable to one of fear, yet some leaders continue to assert a fear-based management style. One CEO recently resigned after reports of the toxic workplace she created went public. Read more on Inc.

Employer Brand of the Year

HR Dive named Southwest Airlines its Employer Brand of the Year, citing its commitment to training, its benefits package, and its motivating atmosphere. Southwest’s employees feel cared for, making it a great place to work and driving the airline’s overall success. Read more on HR Dive.

Whose Problem is Burnout?

Burnout is pervasive and leads to higher healthcare costs, more turnover, and reduced productivity. It is more than an individual problem; it’s on leaders to put a burnout prevention strategy in place by addressing the five root causes of burnout. Read more on Harvard Business Review.

On Your Best Behavior

When employees behave badly, it can impact the workplace negatively. There are 10 steps you can take to prevent and address poor workplace behaviors such as bullying, underperforming, gossiping, and other morale busters. Read more on HCA Magazine.

In Case You Missed It

Check out popular December posts from our blog on workplace safety, marijuana, and avoiding compliance blunders. Or check out our free webinar, 2020 Vision on Compliance, to learn what you can expect in employment law in the coming year and how to be compliant with regulations that went into effect in 2019.

Author: Rachel Sobel

About