Great idea!

The idea of an office party  particularly an office Christmas party  is often greeted with a mixture of enthusiasm and dread. But think positive: this is an opportunity to see and talk to work colleagues outside the normal run of daily business, when it is legitimate to discuss life beyond work, let your hair down a bit, and to see others  and show yourself  as a more fully functioning member of the human race. As a long as you avoid the pitfalls, it can be a fun and enriching experience.

…or not!

But there are pitfalls. Office parties  and particularly office Christmas parties  have been known to have catastrophic outcomes. This is almost always down to the free, and free-flowing, alcohol. A little alcohol can loosen up the mood and create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. It can also loosen tongues. People may start saying what is really on their mind, voicing bottled-up emotions and passions, gossiping and getting catty about colleagues, criticising the boss, or revealing a long suppressed crush on the colleague from Internet Order Despatch. Then they have to turn up to work and face these same colleagues the following day, and every day until memories fade. Even more alcohol can result in acts of gross indecency, accusations of sexual harassment, wrecked careers, wrecked marriages. With such prospects of offer, is it any wonder that some people greet the idea of the office Christmas party with excited anticipation?

Planning checklist

• Who is coming? If it is not everyone, can you avoid hurting those left out? Are spouses and partners also invited? Do you want associates from outside the company, or clients, to attend?
• Choose the date, after consulting as many people as possible.
• Do you want to hold the party in the office, or is an outside venue more suitable?
• Think about food and drink. Who will provide this? Consider varying dietary requirements. Remember to provide a lot of soft drinks.
• Send out written invitations, so all participants know the place and time  and are sure they have been invited.
• If the party is held in the office, who is going to tidy up and lock up?
• Consider how people are going to get home. Do you need to lay on transport?

Book early

If you want to hold your office party at a restaurant, or at some other public venue, be sure to book early, especially if you want a date close to the Christmas break. That may mean booking as early as July.

Serious stuff

Office parties take place within the framework of employment, so the employers have a statutory responsibility for their staff, even if the party is held off the premises. Senior management (as well as office safety managers) should be fully aware of the party plans, and should ensure that procedures and staff are in place to manage these responsibilities. If things get out of hand, there is a genuine danger of serious legal repercussions, ending up at tribunals, for instance under the 'sexual harassment at work' legislation. (Don't put mistletoe on the shopping list!)

Safety first

Great care should be taken a party is to take place in offices premises. Offices are places of work, and not designed for leisure and entertainment. Various commonsense precautions come into play, such as: do not stand on swivel chairs to put up decorations; protect electrical outlets and remove of fasten down cables; keep drinks away from computers and other electrical equipment; do not use candles; and remember that photocopiers are not designed to take the weight of the human body. The TUC and RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) have produced a booklet, available online, entitled 'Office Party Planner', which offers appropriate advice, sprinkled with a little wry humour that shows that sensible precautions do not have to stand in the way of having a good time.

www.worksmart.org.uk/officeparty