Here is the appeal of the Swedish major company.
SSAB does not want their employees to say “Merry Christmas”.
“By using ‘Happy Holidays’ or saying both, ‘Merry Christmas and Happy Weekend’, we can ensure that everyone feels included and respected, regardless of what they believe,” the company writes on its intranet according to The Express.
The Swedish steel giant SSAB issues an appeal to its employees. On the intranet, the HR department urges people to avoid saying “Merry Christmas” and instead use, for example, “Good weekend”, reports The Express.
“It is important to realize that our colleagues can celebrate different holidays. December is a month filled with various cultural, religious and secular holidays celebrated all over the world. By using ‘good weekend’ or saying both, ‘Merry Christmas and happy weekend’, we can ensure that everyone feels included and respected, no matter what they believe in,” the newspaper said.
Former minister’s anger
The screenshot from the company’s intranet has spread on social media where the company calls for an inclusive December. Someone who has reacted to this is Sweden’s former moderate labor market minister Sven Otto Littorin.
“This is just so stupid that the clocks stop,” he writes, and continues:
“I was in Cairo yesterday and am in Riyadh today. In the taxi on the way to the airport, ‘Silent Night’ blared on the radio. The former tourism minister of course wished Merry Christmas eventually. All the Saudis I know do the same. I wish them Merry Christmas back. And Eid Mubarak when they celebrate it. Self-effacement is not the path to tolerance and inclusion. Wish your colleagues a very Merry Christmas and invite them to our traditions instead. Should it be that hard?”
SSAB’s explanation
To Expressen, SSAB’s press manager Anna Molin says that they have noticed the reactions.
– Internationally there have been mostly positive reactions, but some in Sweden have perceived it negatively, she says.
Anna Molin emphasizes that it is not about a ban, but that they want everyone to feel included.
– Of course, it is not a problem to wish someone who celebrates Christmas a Merry Christmas, she tells the newspaper.
On Facebook and Instagram, users have now started commenting “Merry Christmas” on the company’s posts. Labor market and integration minister Mats Persson (L) believes that it is not an important issue whether you say it or not.
– But if it stirs up a lot of emotions in the workplace, I assume that management listens, but I think we can continue to say Merry Christmas in Sweden, he says during a press conference according to TT.