Are You Avoiding the Office Christmas Party?

TIS the season to be jolly, right? But you simply can’t stomach the thought of going to your company’s Christmas party.

It’s not that you are anti-Christmas, it’s just that every year you hear the post-party stories of how some of your colleagues, often fuelled by alcohol, engaged in behaviours they live to regret.

The fact is you simply don’t wish to become embroiled in any incident that might limit your career opportunities.

But here’s the rub. 

For many employees the annual company Christmas party presents an opportunity to forget about budgets, deadlines and other responsibilities as the working year draws to a close – so perhaps you should consider attending to show your support of your colleagues.

The decision is obviously yours. But if do you end up attending, there are a number of simple steps you can take that might just help to boost your career prospects – rather than killing them off.

Consider, for example, that your attendance will most likely enable you to mingle with others whom you rarely get to mix with, including more senior people who you might not have access to on a day-to-day basis – so take the opportunity to build your internal networks.

But don’t fall into the trap of treating this like a night out with friends. 

While you might not be in the office, but rather in a bar or a restaurant, workplace etiquette needs to apply. Avoid flirting with others, making inappropriate comments or telling crude jokes which might offend. The message is simple: think carefully about what you say, and to whom.  

And though you may be encouraged to down multiple shots at the bar like some of your co-workers, try to resist that temptation. Substitute alcoholic with water or other alternatives.  

At the end of the day, you want to be remembered post the Christmas party for all the right reasons – and not a infamous best-on-ground performance fuelled by alcohol that sparked inappropriate or offensive behaviour. 

Think also about avoiding taking pictures at the event which you then post to your social media feed. Embarrassing pictures of your colleagues aligned with your flippant comments may well come back to bite you.

And plan your exit strategy from the function.  

If you are attending simply to “make an appearance” as a sign of support, arrange your departure – by booking a lift at a prearranged time – to avoid being stranded at the function for longer than you had intended.

And if your function includes something like a Kris Kringle, where you need to purchase a small gift for a particular colleague, avoid anything “out of the box” that might be seen to cast that co-worker in a negative or embarrassing light, or have sexual overtones.

Finally, a work Christmas party should be fun. Just take care that it becomes a joyous end to the year, and not an uncomfortable start into the New Year.