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Should Employers fear the Christmas Party.

An office Christmas party should be the opportunity for work colleagues to enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed environment.  Often alcohol will flow freely.  This in turn can cause people to make remarks and behave in a way that would be inappropriate within the working environment.

The problem for the employer is that they are no less responsible for behaviour by their employees at a Christmas party than they are for such behaviour in theworkplace.  To that extent, the office Christmas party should be seen as an extension of the workplace itself.

The vast majority of employees expect Christmas parties to be relaxed occasions and are less likely to take offence at what might be done or said at such an event compared with how their colleagues might behave in a normal working environment.  Nevertheless, there will be a minority of employees who are just as likely to be offended by something done or said at the office party as they would be in the workplace itself.  There is also the risk of some employees looking for an opportunity to strike back at their employer or their colleagues – and behaviour at the office party can provide the perfect ammunition for them.

It is quite possible that any employer considering the potential consequences of a Christmas party might decide the best solution would be to cancel the event altogether! This would be an extreme reaction. The best advice for employers holding Christmas parties is to make employees fully aware that the party is effectively an extension of the workplace. The message to employees should be to enjoy themselves whilst remaining aware of the need to avoid causing offence to others.