Beware of Office Parties 'getting out of hand'
December 7, 2010
It's that time of year when people at the workplace forget about the rules in their need to hold parties and let off steam. These events can be a very important means of dealing with year-end tensions and of cementing employee relations. However, too often, such parties are misused as an excuse to go beyond what company rules and the law allow.
Due to the relaxed atmosphere created by the alcohol, music, and social nature of the event, employees and employers alike often make the mistake of behaving in ways that they would not do during normal working hours. This they do for many reasons including the mistaken beliefs that:
- the party is outside working hours and/or away from the office so the rules don't apply
- such behaviour is normal at parties
- nobody will mind because it is year-end
- people are more tolerant at parties
- I can just say ‘I was drunk and meant it as a joke'
- the employer is paying for it, so anything goes.
Inappropriate behaviour remains inappropriate whether during business hours at the office or outside of office hours at an external venue.
This is because:
- Employees are required to behave appropriately at company functions even if these are held outside normal working hours.
- The mere fact that a company function is off site does not mean its outside the employer's control.
- The employer's policies and procedures continue to apply.
For more information contact Jacques Franken.
