Treating people fairly, respectfully and equally; embracing the diversity of those around you, being inclusive and engaging with people from all walks of life are often highlighted as being key traits of our workplace culture and our immediate community as well.
But what about when we step outside our everyday circles – like when we take time off work for relaxing in the sun, sea and sand? Or perhaps you prefer an adventure holiday or a city break.
Whatever your holiday style it’s essential to remember Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement (FREDIE) wherever you go in life.
Here are our top ten tips for making sure you stay FREDIE friendly while on holiday:
- Respect the culture and keep an open mind: this includes the food, religion, customs and the locals in whose community you are a guest while you are visiting. You may not agree with local customs, religious beliefs or their politics, and that’s fine. But remember these things may be very important to other people.
- Be mindful of language barriers: even if you’re not fluent, trying to get to grips with some key phrases will show the hotel and local restaurant staff that you are embracing the country you’re in and trying to engage with them.
- Stay cool in the airport: travelling can be tiring for a lot of us, but try to remember that a lot of other airport users are in the same boat (metaphorically) as you and also want to reach their destination. Moaning about the long security queues and wait for the baggage claim will not endear you to your fellow travellers, but showing them and the airport staff respect might.
- Say ‘hello’: It’s easy to get caught up in your holiday bubble, but the simple act of saying ‘hello’, ‘good morning’ or ‘good evening’ will show those around you that you’re open to engaging with them and are inclusive–who knows you might make a new friend.
- Do your research: before you decide to visit a specific attraction; make sure you do your research and learn what you can about the place and any important cultural aspects to observe, and you can enjoy your time to the max.
- Respect the rules: pay attention to rules and guidelines of the country you’re visiting, especially when visiting culturally significant places which may have strict rules about the dress code or flash photography.
- Be polite: we all hope that our holidays go without a hitch and can be relaxing 100% of the time. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. However, it is possible to remain polite even in a situation where you find yourself having to make a complaint.
- Remember that people are people: people may not look, talk or dress like you and your family, but they are still people nonetheless. So treat them as you would like to be treated yourself.
- It’s ok to admit to being a tourist/holiday-maker: you don’t need to pretend to be an expert in the country that you’re visiting. Admitting you don’t know everything and seeking input from the locals could open exciting doors and take your holiday to the next level.
- Make an effort to engage with someone from a different country or background: you will be amazed how much you can learn from a simple one-line question such as “Where do you come from?”.
If you can remember to put these tips into practice while on your holidays we’re sure you will have a wonderful time, and you’ll be booking your next trip quicker than you think.
