HR's Post-Christmas Recovery: Tinsel, Leftovers, and New Year’s Prep

Christmas is over, and as the holiday cheer fades, HR is left to clean up the glitter and guide the office into the New Year. The stockings are empty, the ugly sweaters have been folded away, and we’ve survived the Christmas party—now it’s time for HR to shift into post-holiday mode. Here’s what that looks like:

1. The Great Decoration Takedown The office looked like a winter wonderland, but now it’s starting to look more like a tinsel disaster zone. HR’s first task after the holidays? Politely reminding people that those decorations need to come down. The festive snowflakes on Carol’s cubicle were fun in December, but by January 10th, they’re starting to look a little sad. And don’t even get us started on Steve’s inflatable Santa—time to deflate, buddy.

2. The Leftover Potluck Purgatory The office fridge is officially a no-man’s land of leftovers. There’s a half-eaten gingerbread house, several mystery casseroles, and a mountain of cookies that no one’s touched since December 23rd. HR’s duty? Send out that gentle “clean out the fridge” email, reminding everyone that we can’t start the New Year with a fridge full of expired holiday treats. And yes, that weird jello mold? It’s time to go.

3. The "I Totally Forgot About That" Gift There’s always one person who left their Secret Santa gift behind in the chaos of the holidays. It’s been sitting on their desk since the gift exchange, looking lonely and forgotten. HR casually sends a reminder: “Hey, don’t forget to grab your mystery gift before it gets repurposed for next year’s exchange!” We’re all about the holiday spirit—but let’s not carry it into February.

4. The Post-Holiday Slump After all the excitement of the holiday season, January can feel like hitting the brakes. HR is here to help the team ease back into work mode, with motivational emails and maybe a few leftover candy canes (no shame in milking the Christmas candy a little longer). We also might organize a casual “welcome back” coffee break to remind everyone that yes, work still exists, and no, you can’t wear your Christmas pajamas to the office.

5. The Return of "Normal" Attire Speaking of pajamas, post-holiday is when we gently remind everyone that the festive attire window has closed. Those reindeer antlers you wore to the Christmas party? Probably best left at home now. HR appreciates the holiday spirit, but the New Year calls for a return to business casual. Yes, Linda, this means no more holiday onesies at work.

6. The End-of-Year Wrap-Up (That We Should’ve Finished Last Year) While everyone was busy decking the halls, HR was quietly organizing year-end paperwork. Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to finish those performance reviews and finalize any pending forms. We know the transition from “holiday fun” to “year-end paperwork” isn’t exciting, but HR is here to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible. Think of it like wrapping up a gift—just with spreadsheets instead of ribbons.

7. The New Year’s Resolutions Chat The office is buzzing with New Year’s resolutions, and HR knows what’s coming: the annual wave of “Can we get a new gym discount?” or “How about some healthier snack options in the breakroom?” HR loves the enthusiasm, but we’re also here to gently remind everyone that maybe the fourth office-wide email about your personal fitness journey can stay in your group chat.

8. The "Fresh Start" Vibes Despite the post-holiday slump, there’s something about January that feels like a fresh start. HR is all about harnessing that energy to set goals for the New Year, plan some fun team-building activities (we promise, no trust falls), and make sure everyone is feeling motivated to tackle the months ahead. It’s like Christmas magic, but with more action plans and fewer candy canes.

At the end of the day, HR’s post-Christmas recovery is all about cleaning up the holiday remnants and getting everyone ready for the New Year. We love the holiday season, but we also love the fresh energy of January—and the fact that we won’t have to deal with another office Santa until next December.

Welcome to the New Year from HR, where we’ve packed away the tinsel and are ready to take on whatever 2024 brings! 🎉