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New Year's Eve in HR: When Auld Lang Syne Meets Workplace Compliance

It's the final countdown of 2024, and while everyone else is planning their midnight celebrations, we in HR are having our own kind of party. You know, the kind where we're simultaneously closing out the year's paperwork while trying to prevent next year's workplace resolutions from becoming next month's litigation nightmares.


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The Annual HR New Year's Traditions

Watching the Email Ball Drop

While others count down to midnight, we're counting:

  • Remaining PTO requests that somehow still haven't been submitted

  • Outstanding expense reports from June (yes, June)

  • The number of times someone asked if the office is open tomorrow

  • How many "new year, new job?" LinkedIn posts we'll see next week


Resolution Reality Check

Everyone else: "I'm going to exercise more!" HR: "I'm going to finally get everyone to submit their timesheets before the deadline!" (Spoiler alert: Both of these resolutions have about the same success rate.)


What's Really on HR's Mind Tonight


The Things We're Actually Celebrating

  • Successfully explained to management that "vibes" isn't a legal termination reason

  • Managed to keep the holiday party both fun AND lawsuit-free

  • Finally got that one person to stop putting fish in the microwave


The Things We're Slightly Dreading

  • January's inevitable "new year, new policies" meetings

  • The flood of LinkedIn connection requests from people testing the job market

  • That one manager who still thinks "mandatory fun" is a good idea

  • Performance review season 😓


Our New Year's Wishes for You


For Employees

  • May your timesheets be accurate

  • May your Zoom backgrounds be professional

  • May your reply-all responses be few

  • May you remember to mute yourself during virtual meetings


For Managers

  • May your feedback be specific and documented

  • May your meetings have agendas

  • May your team building activities not require HR intervention

  • May you learn that "because I said so" isn't a management style


Looking Ahead to 2025

As we prepare to toast to a new year (with HR-approved beverages, of course), let's remember that every year brings new chances to:

  • Actually read those policy updates we send out

  • Remember that casual Friday has limits

  • Finally figure out what that one acronym means

  • Perfect our "we need to talk about dress code" email template


A Final Toast

Here's to:

  • Less workplace drama

  • More completed compliance training

  • Fewer "quick questions" that turn into hour-long conversations

  • More appreciation for the HR department (we can dream, right?)


Parting Thoughts

As you ring in the new year, that HR never sleeps. We'll be here in 2025, just like we were in 2024, making sure your workplace stays functional, compliant, and only slightly chaotic.


And yes, you still need to come to work on January 2nd. No, the hangover policy hasn't changed.

Happy New Year from your friends at OtterStream HR, where we keep the workplace flowing smoothly, one policy at a time! 🎉


 
 
 

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