Your office Christmas Party is fast approaching, do you know the dos and don’ts?
The annual office Christmas party can be a fun night of frivolity, however, too much frivolity can put your employment in jeopardy.
It is important as an employee to know the expectations of your employer at these functions. Many employers have a policy on how employees ought to behave at work related functions, including Christmas parties.
It is well recognised that these types of functions are sufficiently connected to your workplace and this means that if you engage in any type of behaviour that is inappropriate, such as fighting, sexual harassment or bullying towards other employees then you could be disciplined by your employer and even dismissed from your employment. Just because the work function may be outside of normal working hours and at a different venue to the workplace, does not mean that normal workplace standards of behaviour do not apply.
So here are some helpful tips:
- read any workplace policy that your employer has on workplace functions. If your employer does not have a policy, this does not mean you can engage in any behaviour. You still will need to behave in an appropriate manner;
- if there is alcohol at the function, ensure that you drink responsibly. Organise safe travel home if you are going to consume alcohol;
- be mindful of your behaviour following the end of the Christmas party and any further frivolities you partake in; and
- be careful of your behaviour when drinking alcohol, what you may consider to be a friendly overture may be considered harassment or discrimination.
Don’t be like these employees:
- an employee was dismissed for publicly urinating over a balcony on to diners below at the workplace Christmas party;
- following the end of a workplace Christmas party, an employee engaged in sexual acts in front of other employees, in a hotel room booked by a group of employees. This employee was dismissed; or
- a group of employees were fooling around, an employee was sprayed with paint thinner on his torso by another employee which then ignited as a result of a nearby flame causing severe burns to the employee. The employees involved were prosecuted for breaches of workplace, health and safety legislation.
Your workplace Christmas party can be an enjoyable time. Remember these tips and you can have a fun time without placing your employment in jeopardy. Merry Christmas from Anderson Gray!
