Office Party or Office Party Pooper? Can the work Christmas party ruin your chances of a promotion or should we all let down our hair a little?
The infamous office party has changed a lot over the years. Gone are the days where you sip bucks fizz in the staff kitchen or get yourself into trouble with the photocopier. Now a 20ft table in a local restaurant is standard, but some of the more flash employers may treat their staff to an overnighter. Usually it ends in at least one person looking for their shoes in the banquet suite or not being able to look their colleagues in the eye at breakfast!
In this piece we discuss whether having one too many at the works Christmas bash can ruin your chances of getting that sought after promo in the New Year, or whether it’s okay to let your hair down a little (or a lot!).
We generally assume that a party with your colleagues is a fun offering from the powers that be, but some cannot think of anything worse than to socialise with the people they only tolerate all day. Some may not want to drink themselves silly and others may not be able to get time away from family outside of the working day, so do these people feel short changed?
In most cases a party at Christmas is a way of letting off steam at the end of another busy year and a show of appreciation from your employer, but how far should we go when it comes to the work Christmas ‘do’? Can we treat it like a night out with friends (after all there are likely at least some friendship groups)? Should we be propped up at the bar doing shots and standing on tables singing at the top of our voices? Perhaps… If a venue is being used exclusively, these antics can go unseen and not tarnish a company’s reputation, but what if you are amongst others or even worse, competitors!
Do employers put rules on behaviour in place? Is it expected that we should just know what conduct is acceptable on a work night out?
I think the idea of a meal out is great - but then comes the free booze and that seems to not only blur our vision but blur the lines between a work night out and a mates night out. So, what’s the solution? It’s a difficult call depending on where you are in your career. I’ve seen many approach it as ‘work’ and ensure they are on their best behaviour at all times. I’ve seen others go completely the opposite way resulting in a conversation with HR on Monday morning… Personally I’ve always tried to land somewhere in the middle: to have a good time with my ‘works friends’ (whether that’s drinking or not!) and watch what I say to the big boss.
At the end of the day, those Senior Leaders have been in the same position as you at one point in their career. If you’re worried about how you might come across, play it safe.
If you are the next rising star, you’ve worked hard to be there - and should be able to celebrate - but don’t let the year’s work go out the window in one evening. Everyone deserves some fun, especially in the season reserved for it but perhaps consider how it’ll impact your prospects beyond tomorrow’s hangover.
Happy Partying!
