You can help to arrange transport before the night, pre-booking taxis or deciding upon designated drivers, therefore minimising the likelihood of anyone trying to drink and drive.
If an employee ends up injured or worse because of an accident after the party, you could find yourself liable; especially if you have supplied large amounts of alcohol.
Office Relationships
Occasionally, office relationships can become strained during parties, especially where too much alcohol is present. You may have two employees who do not get along particularly well; and alcohol could potentially make things worse.
You can help these situations by keeping the event as light-hearted and fun as possible, not leaving people on their own; and putting the focus away from the drinking aspect of the night.
On rare occasions, you may find that a member of staff becomes a lot more forceful towards members of the opposite sex. You need to be careful if this appears to be the case, and try to limit the risk of this happening; and deal with it quickly (E.g.: Starting a conversation with the person). If a worker feels harassed by a colleague you could potentially face consequences under the “sexual harassment at work” regulations.
If you believe alcohol could cause problems at your office party, consider going for a full meal rather than a buffet; as this will help slow alcohol absorption. If you are providing the drinks, try keeping them relatively low in alcohol content, and don’t overdo the amount of drink available.
Business Damage
You should be aware of potential issues at a Christmas or office party that could end up damaging your business if not planned for and dealt with.
If your employees get into arguments or other situations, it could severely damage the working relationship between them and other members of staff.
If you have any customers or clients at your office party, be wary of employees acting in a way that could damage the reputation of your business.
The majority of office equipment is easily damaged by water or liquids. If your party is within your office; it makes sense to move as much delicate or valuable equipment as possible away from the main party area. This reduces the risk of any of your important data or equipment getting damaged by accidental spillages.
It is often best to hold a party on the last working day of the week, as employees may not be in the best condition for working the morning after!
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