An HR expert has warned what not to do at your Christmas party at work – and says ‘avoid over sharing and don’t mix business and romance’.
Melissa Stone, 43 – an HR professional with more than 20 years’ experience – says it can take years to build your reputation at work, but one night to undo it all.
While Christmas parties should be fun, Melissa reminds them that they are still workplace events and should not be treated as personal gatherings.
Melissa, HR director and career coach, from County Wexford, Ireland, said: “Building a reputation at work as a capable, reliable and competent professional takes time and effort.
“However, a night out at the office Christmas party can undo all that hard work in the space of a few hours.
“For some, the damage can be irreversible, causing heartbreaking consequences and damage to their future career prospects.
“The truth is, while Christmas parties are fun, festive and a great opportunity to bond with your colleagues, they are still workplace events and should not be treated the same as personal gatherings or non-work celebrations.”
Brits are known for their love of a pint, but Melissa is warning people not to overindulge in front of their bosses.
She said: “A few glasses of mulled wine here or there may seem innocent enough, but don’t overdo it.
“If you really want to ‘party’, the function in the workplace is not the time or the place.
“As a Director of Human Resources, I have seen first-hand where alcohol-fueled incidents have led to workplace investigations, and for some, early termination as a result of a harassment claim.”
Melissa says it’s important to make sure the event you’re at is organized by your workplace.
She added that if you think certain behavioral comments would be inappropriate in the office, they are still inappropriate at the party.
She said: “Comments or behavior that would not be acceptable in the office – such as inappropriate jokes, gossip, offensive comments or pushy dances – can lead to serious consequences.
“Your company likely has policies that state as much and remind you that you still need to adhere to these internal policies or codes of conduct.
“If you break these, you could find yourself in hot water before you see Christmas Day.”
Melissa suggests that mistletoe might have hung from the office ceiling back then – but claims those days are over.
She says most people don’t want to have any kind of physical contact with someone in their office other than a handshake — let alone an unwanted kiss.
Melissa said: “Mistletoe aside, office romances can be a touchy subject and the Christmas party is definitely not the place to start them.
“Even if it goes right, it can make others around you uncomfortable.
“If it all goes wrong, it can damage your professional reputation when your innocent gesture quickly turns into a Christmas party misconduct complaint.”
If everything goes wrong and you mess up at your Christmas party, Melissa says it’s important to own up and apologize where necessary.
And most importantly, don’t make the same mistakes next time.
She said: “If you make a mistake at Christmas, take ownership and address it as soon as you can.
“Apologise where necessary and make sure you learn from the experience to avoid repeating it in the next event.”
What not to do at your work Christmas party –
- Do not overdo it with alcohol
- Avoid over-distribution
- Remember that you are still at work
- Do not mix business and romance
- Don’t ignore the dress code
- Do not post without consent
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Image Source : nypost.com