Ten Coaching Tips for Holiday Office Parties

by Guest Author Patrick Boyd or The Boyd Law Group, PLLC -- www.theboydlawgroup.com

1) Just because the party is off-premises does not mean there are no professional or corporate obligations.  The employer and its managers are liable under the employment laws at off-premises parties.

2) Too much drinking, or offering too much liquor, is always dangerous.  An employer can be liable for the issues created.  A car service home is often a nice touch if drinking is involved.

3) Beware of cell phone photographs.  These are easy to take and can last as evidence for a long time on the Internet.  The questionable photo can wind up becoming an exhibit in a case of sexual harassment.

4) Be prudent with holiday gifts.  Set a price limit that accounts for the different earning levels in the office so no one feels uncomfortable.

5) Holiday gags are fine, but keep them clean.  Do not give a gift that you would embarrassed to have your grandmother see.  There have been more than a few sexual harassment cases based on sexually suggestive holiday gifts.

6) Be sensitive to the fact that not everyone at your party is Christian.   Use the greeting of "Happy Holidays" if you suspect the person is of another faith.

7) Mistletoe is almost always a mistake at holiday office parties.  It can lead to claims of sexual harassment.

8) As a business owner or chief executive, allow your managers to be extra flexibile at this time of year; especially if the employee needs to travel to see family.   It helps to build employee morale.

9) This is the season of giving.   It is often nice to encourage a charitable donation - like Toys for Tots - as part of your holiday event.

10) Have fun and keep work discussions out of the dialog if you can.   This is the time to personally get to know the people you work with better while sharing the joy of the season.

Comments

[Ashley]

I have to agree with most of these tips that are given above. I think this is some good advice for some employers to read.

[Ergonomic Chair]

There are tips that may seem unnecessary but can easily prove to be really worthy. Parties are great but for sure, some guidelines to follow will not prevent the fun from happening.

[Otabek]

I've been attending youth srtops this year, because of my students.Wednesday night, the kid you'd NEVER expect to make a basket did. The joy from the coach and his teammates were amazing. I heard one child tell another that they needed to make sure that he got a basket EVERY game. I loved the attitude that their coach is teaching. Everyone gets a chance, everyone plays just about the same amount of time.

[Katy]

Cheating on the person you love or are with is roettn, end of whether the other person is hotter, thinner, chubbier, richer, whatever the reason.If you are the type of person who hops in/out of beds, then you have no notion of what a relationship means and you may never know. I think it's important that when going out with someone, you should also view what kind of circle they are in, which can help determine what their behaviour will be like.