Member Article

How to survive the office Christmas party

It’s the Marmite event of the social calendar; the work Christmas party. For some, it’s the highlight of the year, while others do all they can to avoid it. Whether it’s the fear of revealing an office crush or saying the wrong thing to your boss, there’s lots of reasons why pre-Christmas drinks with your colleagues may not fill you with joy; but it doesn’t have to be that way.

According to Kirwans’ solicitors James Barker, Head of Personal Injury, and Lindsey Knowles, Head of Employment Law, Christmas parties can be a great opportunity to relax, enjoy yourself, and even to network; but there are a few things you need to bear in mind to make the most of them.

Here, they provide the guide that every worker should read, in order to turn the Christmas party from a necessary evil to a fun-filled event.

Don’t make unwanted advances Making a move at the Christmas party might be a good old-fashioned cliché, but in the age of #metoo, unwanted advances that make people feel uncomfortable – whether it’s men or women – are being called out. “It’s one thing to tentatively sound someone out about a date, but quite another to try to kiss them or touch them inappropriately if you’re not 100 per cent sure the feeling’s mutual,” says Lindsey.

Know your rights If you’re on the receiving end of unwanted attention, then be aware that you don’t need to put up with anything that makes you feel uneasy. Your employer should have policies in place regarding employee conduct, and a breach of them is, at the very least, grounds for disciplinary proceedings. The same goes for other types of discrimination or harassment, whether that’s to do with religious beliefs, disabilities, sexual orientation or race. If its harassment, then it’s against the law and there are avenues you can go down to gain recompense.

Remember that loose lips sink ships We can all be a little indiscreet when we’ve had a drink or two. But that can be a huge problem if it involves breaching client confidentiality or letting commercially sensitive details slip.

“It’s important to remember that while you might be out of the office, workplace rules still apply,” says Lindsey. “That means not saying or sharing anything that would be inappropriate during the normal course of nine to five – and certainly not revealing any information that has been entrusted to you by a manager or colleague. Doing so could not just result in an embarrassing post-party showdown at the office, but disciplinary proceedings and even the termination of your contract.” ** Keep your cool** Again, once out of workplace territory, you may feel you’re on safer ground when it comes to speaking your mind. But it’s important to behave as carefully as you would if you were at work. That means not insulting your boss, not lashing out at a colleague that annoys you, and certainly not physically assaulting anyone.

“It may sound far-fetched, but these things really do happen at Christmas events,” says James Barker. “Last year the Court of Appeal ruled on a case that involved a managing director punching an employee who suffered traumatic brain damage. The Court decided that the firm was responsible for it’s MD’s actions, and was held vicariously liable as a result.”

Limit your drink You’ll notice that many of these points follow on from employees or managers having had too much to drink. And while, if you enjoy a tipple, you should absolutely indulge at the work Christmas do, it’s probably a good idea to restrict your alcohol intake to avoid potential flashpoints. Instead, save the chance to really let your hair down for a more appropriate time and place with friends and family. “The works do can be good fun,” says Lindsey, “but you should see it as a pleasant extension to your working day rather than the best place to start a drinking competition.”

Don’t drink and drive In theory, this goes without saying. In practice, however, when you’re in the middle of a Christmas party, it can be difficult to resist the urge to push your limits of safe driving by enjoying more alcohol than you know you really should. “Drinking and driving is a thorny issue, and one which could result in a loss of respect from your colleagues, a breathalyser test from the police or much, much worse,” says James. “The safest option is to choose either to have a drink or to drive; don’t combine the two.” ** Mind your language** “It’s easy to let your guard down at out-of-work events, and to forget yourself when it comes to talking in a manner that others could find offensive,” says Lindsey. “Be careful not to speak in a way that could lead people to believe you’re discriminating against them, whether in terms of sexual, disability, race or religion.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Rachael Tinniswood .