An ally is someone who is not a member of an underrepresented group but who takes action to support that group to help make their workplace more diverse and inclusive for all.
For workplaces to become truly inclusive it is up to people who hold positions of privilege to be active allies and to take responsibility for making changes that will help others be successful.
Allies at all levels can take action with simple, everyday efforts that make a real difference and in this series, we highlight some things that you can do to be an ally and to support your colleagues from underrepresented groups.
Celebrate Lunar New Year
Celebrating Lunar New Year in the office can be a great way to educate employees about Chinese and ESEA culture and history. How you choose to celebrate the Lunar New Year should be driven by your employees but here are some ideas to get you started:
- Decorate the office: You can decorate the office with traditional decorations such as red lanterns, banners, and other symbols of good luck and prosperity. This can help to create a festive and celebratory atmosphere in the office.
- Organize a potluck lunch or dinner: Encourage employees to bring traditional dishes to share with their colleagues. This can be a great way to bond with colleagues and try different types of food.
- Host a cultural event: You can invite employees to participate in a Lunar New Year cultural event, such as a lion dance performance, or a calligraphy or painting demonstration.
- New Year party: You can organise a Lunar New Year party, with traditional music, games, and activities. You can also give out red envelopes with money as a sign of good luck and prosperity.
- Give Red Envelopes: Giving “red envelopes” filled with money to employees is a traditional way of wishing good luck and prosperity. You can distribute the envelopes at your office party or during the Lunar New Year.
- Offer time off: If the company has a significant number of employees who celebrate the Lunar New Year, you can consider offering time off for this holiday.
- Lunar New Year quiz: Create a quiz about Lunar New Year and ESEA culture, and encourage employees to participate. You can offer prizes for the winners.
- Chinese calligraphy workshop: Invite a calligraphy artist to give a workshop on how to write traditional Chinese characters. Employees can learn how to write their own name or a traditional Chinese phrase.
- New Year greeting cards: Encourage employees to create their own Lunar New Year greeting cards to send to colleagues and clients. This can be a fun and creative way to spread good wishes for the new year.
- New Year food fair: Organize a New Year food fair where employees can sample different traditional Chinese and other ESEA dishes and learn more about the different regional cuisines.
- Chinese Zodiac signs: Share information about the Chinese Zodiac signs and their meanings. Encourage employees to find out their own Chinese Zodiac sign and learn more about its characteristics.
- Lunar New Year themed dress code: Encourage employees to dress in red or traditional clothing. This can help create a festive and celebratory atmosphere in the office.
These are just a few ideas, but the key is to be inclusive and to celebrate an a genuine authentic manner and to create an environment where everyone feels welcome to participate and celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Read the full “How to be an Ally” series here.
