The office Christmas party

By LBV

07 Dec 2009

Q: I have a large team that we’re taking out for Christmas celebrations later this month. How do I make sure everyone behaves themselves?

A: Firstly, you need to take responsibility for arranging the location, time, and nature of the Christmas celebration.

Ensure that those staff under the legal drinking age of 18 refrain from drinking alcohol.

Think twice before supplying free alcohol to other employees. Many incidents at Christmas parties including inappropriate conduct such as violence result from excessive drinking.

These can lead to grievances being made against colleagues and the company, and the company needing to take disciplinary action against staff.

The law can see the Christmas party as ‘work time’ and therefore hold the company (employer) responsible for the drinking practices and behaviour of staff.

Secondly, there is a risk that staff may start to cross the relationship boundaries with colleagues, with behaviour that is drink fuelled and unwelcome.

Prior to the celebrations, ensure therefore that you have laid down clear rules to staff as to what constitutes inappropriate conduct and warn everyone to be on their ‘best behaviour’.

If anyone makes a complaint about harassment, it must be dealt with seriously and efficiently (remembering again, the company is vicariously liable for the conduct of its employees in the course of employment.)

Thirdly, brief your management to remain in control of their senses when conversing with staff members. Promises of pay rises, bonuses and promotions could be contractually binding if there is certainty to the commitment entered into!

Top Tips to Avoid the Pitfalls
• Ensure the Company has in place an Equal Opportunities and Anti-Harassment Policy (clearly stating what conduct amounts to harassment) and that it is enforced.
• Provide training and support to managers on equal opportunities and anti-harassment.
• Ensure the Company’s Disciplinary Policy clearly states examples of what amounts to misconduct and gross misconduct.
• Consider whether it is possible to hold the Christmas party at a venue other than the place of work and find a way to diplomatically warn employees to be on their ‘best behaviour’.
• Ensure any grievances are dealt with seriously and consistently and in accordance with procedure.
• Be very careful if providing alcohol to staff!
• Ensure that any celebration does not offend employees’ religions.
• Ensure health and safety requirements are satisfied.
• Consider how employees will travel home after the party.

Answer by Marsden Rawsthorn employment team
 

Enjoyed this? Read more from LBV

Latest news

1

Dragons' Den star to shine on Lancashire Business Day Derry Green

Dragons' Den star to shine on Lancashire Business Day

21 Oct 2025

2

Eden Project Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 marks 25th anniversary Eden Project garden

Eden Project Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 marks 25th anniversary

21 Oct 2025

3

Lancashire farm named 'Family Farming Business of the Year British Farming Awards

Lancashire farm named 'Family Farming Business of the Year

20 Oct 2025

4

Breck Homes appoints new managing director Phil Dolan, Breck

Breck Homes appoints new managing director

20 Oct 2025

5

Management buyout at Suresite Group Steve Holden

Management buyout at Suresite Group

17 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

Chamber Business Lunch – October
LBV Hub Networking
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – October

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

11:00 - 13:30

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancaster District Business Support Expo
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Oct 2025 - 29 Oct 2025

Lancaster District Business Support Expo

The Platform, Morecambe, LA4 4DB

10:00 - 15:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin