As Christmas and New Year are approaching, we are currently in the middle of the holiday party season. Companies and businesses all over the world are holding their annual holiday party soirees for employees, colleagues, clients, customers, etc. It’s a great time for people to get together and have a little fun outside of the office. Company holiday parties can be an enjoyable experience, but it also takes a little grace and skill to navigate the event while still keeping your employee hat on.
As a former HR manager, I’ve been to a lot of company holiday parties, and I’ve also witnessed many a faux pas committed by employees. Yes, you should enjoy yourself, but you shouldn’t through the rule book out the window. You still must conduct yourself accordingly.
I took to my Twitter and Facebook pages to ask my followers and community what they thought were the 10 Things That You Should Not Do at a Company Holiday Party. Here are some of the most popular answers along with my suggestions for what not to do:
1. Get Drunk
Overdoing it with drinking at the company holiday party won’t turn out well. No matter if you are the quiet drunk, the sobbing drunk, the aggressive drunk, or the throwing up drunk, it will not be your finest hour. And even though the party is after hours and usually in another setting other than the office, you will always be remembered for your liquor consumption. And when it’s time for that next raise or promotion, you will probably get looked over—-again. Just because it’s an open bar, drink no more than 3 drinks. Thank me later.
2. Be a Wallflower
Mix, mingle, join in for a few dances. Don’t be a wallflower. You can have fun, you know.
3. Bring a Posse with You
Your company may allow you to +1 to the holiday party. Do not bring an entire entourage with you because of the free food and liquor. Be mindful and respectful.
4. Get Too Flirty
It’s not cool to flirt or get too touchy feely with your co-workers. Even during the company holiday party.
5. Gossip
Just don’t do it.
6. Talk About Work
You will be back in the office soon enough. Leave the discussion about the next project or deadline in the offices and cubicles of your company. Enjoy the party without discussing business.
7. Be the First to Leave
Your company holiday party may be an informal affair, but it doesn’t mean you have to eat and run. Allow proper time to mix and mingle with all of the attendees and make sure you spend some time at the party before ditching it.
8. Scantily Clad
Leave the nightclub attire at home. While you don’t have to wear a pants suit, you want to make sure you are still appropriately dressed for the event.
9. Be Anti-Social
Get off your iPhone and socialize in real life and in real time.
10. Do Not Attend
Unless you are sick or have a very good explanation, you should attend your company holiday party. The company holiday party is a throwback to the days when employers actually enjoyed thanking their employees for their hard work all year, and many companies have nixed doing them. If your company is having a holiday party, you should go and enjoy!
Is there something missing on this list? Leave a comment and add your two cents!
I would add what I think is a no-brainer, yet I’ve heard it at company parties: don’t complain about the company!
I’ve sat at a table with co-workers and listened to them complain and complain about the company and finally got up and moved to another table.
Wow, Terri, how did we miss that one! That’s actually a great do not do, no matter how much of a no-brainer it seems to be. A lot of people are guilty of doing this. Thanks for commenting and adding this. 🙂