Last year, Santa Clauses from department store across Western Australia walked off their job leaving kids in tears. Perents were stressed and angry.

Are we likely to see more walk-outs, or will there just be empty chairs where Santa once sat, and the position cannot be filled?

There has been a huge change in the last 5-8 years in the Santa industry. The biggest changes include child protection laws, legal requirements, OH&S standards.

Santa is not permitted by law to touch a child unless it is below the shoulders, or well above the waste. The kid is supposed to sit "side saddle" as between the legs is too "risqué". The photographer then nervously shouts “hands“, and the white gloved hands quickly go on the arms of the throne, CLICK, then you catch the child before they fall on the floor.

Santa does not call out "Ho Ho Ho": as it is offensive to some cultures. It is like saying to the girls "slut slut slut".

We can't ring the bells and bellow now, as it makes the babies cry, the kids nervous, and the whole trauma is not worth it.

We can't pat kids on the head as in Asian cultures, this is the ultimate insult.

We can't say that Christmas is just for Christians, it is for all children.

Younger Santa’s tend to adapt to the changes, but parents prefer older Santas like in photos even when they are grumpy.

The job of Santa is not to push merchandise these days, he is the store counsellor that tries to calm down the parent, and let them "slow down" to just feel "the spirit of Christmas" and this spirit is in the surprise, not the expectation. The point is not the expense of the present, the point is what makes the surprise feel kinda magic or special to the child.

No, I wont do Santa this year. It is time to move on. I have other things to do. I still wonder. How many empty chairs will there be this year? I wonder if anyone will notice my absence?