The HR Grinch - Fact or Fiction?

Ah, Christmas! A time of joy, laughter, and—if you work in HR—a subtle transformation into the company’s unofficial Christmas Grinch. The party planning, jumper days, festive quizzes, secret Santas… meticulously organised by many HR folk. Yet, somehow, we’re still seen as the ones who stifle the fun.

But is this reputation fair?

Let’s face it: HR tends to get a bad rap at Christmas. We’re the ones ensuring the party doesn’t descend into chaos, that karaoke doesn’t lead to a sexual harassment case due to Bob's rendition of "I'm Too Sexy", and that the annual festive quiz doesn’t spark a department-wide grudge match. Yet, ironically, we’re also the ones “slipping out early” to avoid the dreaded “HR is watching” vibe.

For some reason, our presence at a party can feel like having Santa himself on the dancefloor, clipboard in hand, checking his list for appropriate behaviour. But is it really our job to kill the vibe? Nope. We’re just there to make sure the real Grinch—usually a cringe-worthy incident—doesn’t ruin Christmas for everyone else.

When HR Misses Out The flipside? HR often ends up side-lined during the fun. Whether it’s leaving early “to set the example” or skipping events altogether so others feel relaxed, it can sometimes feel like we’re the holiday babysitters, cleaning up tinsel while everyone else sings Last Christmas.

This is so much a thing that dedicated HR networking groups arrange their own party's without anyone expecting us to police the buffet table for petty theft of a sausage roll. Let me tell you, when HR people throw a party for HR people, there’s no “checking the room” for inappropriate conduct. It’s just unadulterated festive cheer.

How Did We Get Here? Let’s be honest: HR often gets viewed as a faceless entity. We’re not Sophie from HR, we’re just “HR.” And that perception doesn’t magically disappear at Christmas. The good news? Times are changing. More and more businesses are recognising that HR isn’t the Grinch in this festive tale—it’s the glue holding all the sparkly decorations together.

Let’s Rewrite the Story This Christmas, let’s ditch the idea that HR needs to play the festive fun police. Let’s celebrate together—team, leaders, and yes, HR included. We’ve spent all year making sure everyone else feels valued and supported; we deserve to let loose too!

So no, I won’t be quietly disappearing from the dancefloor or being just "HR" this year. If we’re celebrating, I’m celebrating too—with a mince pie in one hand and a glass of something sparkly in the other.

Because here’s the truth: HR are human too.

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Now over to you: What’s your funniest HR-related Christmas memory? Or are you one of the team who can’t relax until HR leaves the party? Let me know in the comments!

#ChristmasInHR #FestiveFun #PeopleFirst