Rachel, I want to put up a small tree

Dear Rachel,
I am an admitted Christmas nut, and I would like to put up a small Christmas tree by my desk for the holidays. But I worry about offending people who are not religious or are of a different religion. Where I'm from everyone went all out for Christmas. But where I live now there's all sorts of people from all over the world.  What's your advice? Should I put up the tree or not? Sign me—Getting Misty

Dear Misty,
Thanks for writing in. Every year at this time I get notes like yours, and I always want to respond. They're always from people with the best of intentions.

They want to celebrate the holidays with the community that is their workplace but at the same time worry about offending people they work with who don't share the same beliefs.

If there is one time of the year when we want to feel open-hearted and inclusive, it is now. We are challenged to celebrate the joy of the holidays and our good feelings toward all as the year comes to an end.

The last thing you want to do is put up a tree by your desk and have a storm build up over it.

My advice is to see what office policy is. Talk to your workmates and your supervisors.

At some offices, you wouldn't even know the holidays were upon us. At others, Christmas decorations are all over, from trees to cards hanging everywhere and oodles of twinkling lights.

You can be sure that the issue you raise has been raised by many before you and that a policy, whether written or not, is in place.

Tags: all sorts, community, Dear Misty, Dear Rachel, Getting Misty, people, time