To Party or Not to Party?

When in France last week, I was surprised to find out that the ‘Staff Christmas Party’ seems to be an event particular to our culture and doesn’t happen in most other European cultures. This could be a blessing in disguise for company directors throughout the UK. Not that they are likely to get drunk and make fools of themselves (but some do!), but that the annual event of drunkenness and debauchery with those people that you work with but probably don’t socialise with for the rest of the year is not necessarily a pretty site!

But bosses that do not lay on an event at Christmas for their staff are viewed as ‘scrooges’ or ‘kill-joys’, so there is a dilemma here. Perhaps an event without alcohol? I don’t think so! Or perhaps an event during the day when people are less likely to get hammered? But maybe they will anyway! I would be interested in more creative solutions if anyone has any – let me know!

Personally I like to thank my staff for their hard work at the end of the year, and because we have all worked our socks off in the four months prior to Christmas, it seems an appropriate moment to do this. We also invite partners as they too have made sacrifices to allow their partners to work long hours in the run-up to Christmas. I believe the latter move is quite unusual, but perhaps leads to less debauchery? The key is to decide the bar budget and to allow people to have a good time without breaking the bank or themselves. There was one memorable year at Cotswold Fayre when a member of staff decided to punch his manager in the face at the Christmas party having drunk too many Sambuca’s paid for by me unwittingly. Needless to say there was a bit of a strange atmosphere for the rest of the evening! For your information any event like this counts as ‘being at work’ so normal disciplinary measures can proceed. In this case he was dismissed for gross misconduct on the first day back after New Year.

So hopefully you won’t need that information, but just in case! Have a good Christmas party season, and for those bosses out there reading this – stay sober at the Christmas party – and let your hair down away from work!