Well, Christmas is only just around the corner and of course the party season is upon us once again. While many will make it through unscathed, with their dignity and their reputation intact, others will find themselves waking up the day after the office Christmas party to a hangover and the horrifying realizations of what they did or said the night before.
Maybe it’s just the alcohol, or maybe it’s the alcohol on top of a year’s worth of pent-up and sometimes genuine emotions which have been brewing in the workplace, but whichever is the case, it seems that the annual Christmas party can be fraught with opportunities to make fools of ourselves and ruin our professional relationships. If we are not declaring our undying love (or lust) for the person who has occupied the next cubicle to us but to whom we have hardly spoken, then we are telling the boss what we really think of him or, at the very least, just making a general jackass of ourselves.
The thing about this kind of behavior at office Christmas parties is that even if little is said about it after the event, it is noticed and remembered by your employer. Even if he does just choose to view it simply as festive high spirits, the next time he’s trying to choose somebody to go on the latest residential training course or trying to find the right person to take on an important new client who needs to be wined and dined, he’s going to think twice about nominating you.
The bottom line here is that while office Christmas parties are still, of course, parties, they shouldn’t be confused with the type of celebrations that you have with family and friends. They are work-related events and, as such, behaving professionally is still essential. Of course, it’s fine to have a drink or two, but however well you think you can hold it, two probably should be your limit if you don’t want to face the suggestion afterwards that you have a problem with alcohol.
Another important thing to remember about office Christmas parties is that you are who you associate with. In some cases, employees are allowed to invite partners or friends to these functions and if you choose to take someone along, you would be well-advised to choose carefully. You could stay as sober as a judge but if the person accompanying you is well-oiled and dancing on the tables, it’s you who is going to suffer the consequences.
Go and have fun by all means, but just remember that mud sticks and not only might you have to face the short-term embarrassment caused by any bad behavior, but the longer-term consequences too.
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