🎄 Appropriate Behavior
1. Christmas Potluck Expectations
Your workplace is hosting a Christmas potluck. You brought cookies, but some coworkers brought expensive dishes. You start to feel embarrassed and think your cookies aren’t “good enough.”
Question: What is the appropriate way to behave and respond?
Stay positive, place your cookies on the table, and thank others for their dishes. Remember that effort counts, not cost. You can say, “I made cookies to share!” and join the group respectfully.
1. Holiday Customer Miscommunication
A customer tells you “Merry Christmas,” but you accidentally respond with “Happy Hanukkah,” confusing them. They look annoyed.
Question: How can you repair the communication?
Politely correct yourself: “Sorry about that — happy holidays! How can I help you today?” Clear, calm communication helps fix misunderstandings.
1. Multiple Christmas Tasks
Your job assigns you three tasks: stocking holiday items, greeting customers, and organizing gift bags. The schedule is tight because it’s Christmas week.
Question: How do you adjust your routine?
Prioritize by urgency:
Stock items (customers need them immediately)
Prepare gift bags
Greet customers between tasks
Use a checklist to stay organized.
1. Christmas Rush + Multiple Noise Sources
The store is packed, holiday music is loud, customers are talking, and your supervisor asks you to work near the busiest area.
Question: What can you do to stay regulated?
Use coping tools: deep breaths, short breaks if allowed, noise-reducing headphones, and let your supervisor know if you need to rotate tasks.
1. High-Volume Christmas Wrapping Station
You are wrapping gifts for customers, but more orders keep coming in. You have 45 minutes before your lunch break.
Question: How do you manage the workload?
Sort orders by deadline, wrap the quickest items first, set a timer to stay on pace, and ask for help if orders become too much.
2. Hanukkah Office Setup Conflict
Two coworkers disagree about where to place the menorah display. They both ask for your opinion and start arguing.
Question: What is an appropriate way to stay neutral and respectful?
Avoid choosing sides. Say something polite like, “Maybe we can ask our supervisor so everyone feels comfortable.” Stay calm and don’t get involved in the argument.
2. Hanukkah Cooking Instructions at Work
You’re helping make latkes for a workplace event, but you don’t understand the instructions the chef gave you.
Question: What’s the best communication strategy?
Ask for clarification using specific questions: “Can you show me how small to grate the potatoes?” Clear questions prevent mistakes.
2. Daily Hanukkah Ceremony Timing
The workplace lights the menorah at 2:00 p.m. every day, but this interrupts your usual cleaning schedule.
Question: How do you update your routine?
Clean earlier in the day or finish after the ceremony. Plan ahead by moving flexible tasks around fixed events.
2. Hanukkah Candle Lighting + Crowd
The room fills quickly during the ceremony, and people stand close together. You feel trapped and overstimulated.
Question: What is a healthy response?
Stand near the back or doorway, take a break outside if needed, and tell your supervisor, “I need a minute — I’ll be right back.”
2. Hanukkah Food Prep With Multiple Steps
You must help make latkes, clean the kitchen, and label the food table — all before 3:00 p.m.
Question: How should you divide your time?
Break tasks into blocks:
1st: cooking (time-sensitive)
2nd: labeling (quick task)
3rd: cleaning (finish last to keep area fresh)
3. Kwanzaa Feast Line Behavior
During the Kwanzaa Karamu meal, everyone is excited and rushing to get food. Someone accidentally cuts in front of you.
Question: What is the appropriate behavior?
Stay calm, avoid pushing or arguing, and politely say, “Excuse me, I was next,” or let it go if it’s not a big deal. Staying respectful is more important than being first.
3. Sharing Ideas During Kwanzaa Planning
You want to suggest adding Umoja (unity) posters to the display, but the team meeting is busy and people are talking over each other.
Question: How can you communicate your idea effectively?
Wait for a pause and say, “I have a suggestion — could we add Umoja posters?” Using a calm, confident tone helps you be heard.
3. Kwanzaa Learning Block & Deadlines
Your team has a 30-minute Kwanzaa learning session on Ujima (collective responsibility) but you also have to finish sorting deliveries by 4:00 p.m.
Question: How do you manage your schedule?
Start sorting earlier, pace yourself, and leave at least 15 minutes at the end in case tasks run long.
3. Kwanzaa Drumming Workshop
The drumming and singing are much louder than you expected, and it’s hard to focus on your tasks afterward.
Question: How can you manage anxiety and regain focus?
Take 2–3 minutes of quiet time, use grounding strategies (like counting objects), drink water, and return to tasks slowly.
3. Kwanzaa Table Setup With Missing Supplies
You need to set up the Kwanzaa kinara, posters, and display items, but some supplies are missing.
Question: How do you use your time wisely?
Set up what you do have first, then inform your supervisor about the missing items. Don’t waste time searching without direction.
4. Holiday Gift Rules at Work
Your workplace says no gifts over $10 for Secret Santa. You notice someone got a very expensive gift and your coworker complains about it.
Question: What is a respectful way to respond?
Do not gossip or comment on the cost. Say, “Let’s just enjoy the exchange,” and follow the rules yourself. Staying professional is important.
4. Holiday Schedule Change Discussion
Your supervisor asks you to stay late on Christmas Eve, but you have family dinner at 6 p.m.
Question: How do you communicate your needs respectfully?
Say, “I would like to help, but I have family plans at 6. Is there another shift or another way I can support the team?”
4. Holiday Staffing Shortages
Two coworkers are absent the week of Christmas, so tasks rotate differently and break times change.
Question: How do you adjust?
Check the updated schedule each morning, ask questions if unsure, and set reminders so you don’t miss new break times.
4. Holiday Decorations Overload
Your workplace puts up bright blinking lights, scented candles, loud playlists, and many decorations.
Question: What can you do if this overstimulates you?
Ask to work in a calmer area, request the lights in your workspace be non-blinking, or use breaks to reset your senses.
4. Christmas Shipment Deadline
You must sort and scan 50 packages before the truck arrives at 1 p.m., and it’s already 11:30.
Question: How do you stay on track?
Work steadily, avoid chatting, sort into groups to speed up scanning, and check the clock every 10–15 minutes.
5. Christmas Decorations and Safety
You notice a coworker hanging decorations near electrical cords, which is against workplace rules.
Question: What is the appropriate behavior?
Politely let them know: “I think we aren’t supposed to put things near the cords for safety.” If they don’t listen, tell a supervisor calmly.
5. Thanking a Busy Coworker
A coworker helps you hang Hanukkah lights, but they are in a rush to finish their own tasks.
Question: What’s the best way to communicate appreciation?
Thank them clearly but briefly: “Thanks for the help — I really appreciate it. Good luck with your task!” This shows respect for their time.
5. Weather + Holiday Shift Changes
Your bus is often late because of snow, and your workplace opens earlier for holiday sales.
Question: How do you manage your routine?
Plan to take an earlier bus, prepare your bag the night before, and track weather forecasts to stay ahead.
5. Gift Exchange Anxiety
You must open your gift in front of everyone, and you’re worried people will watch your reaction.
Question: How do you manage the moment?
Practice a simple “Thank you!” ahead of time, take slow breaths, and ask if you can open your gift at your desk instead.
5. Shortened Holiday Shifts + Normal Workload
Your shift is 1 hour shorter due to holiday hours, but your task list stays the same.
Question: What is the best time-management strategy?
Focus on the most important tasks first, eliminate distractions, and ask which tasks can be postponed.