Employer Expectations at Workplace Christmas Celebrations
An exciting part of the end of the year is the workplace celebrations. While it’s great to take time out and enjoy the company of your team and other colleagues, it is important to be mindful of your behaviour and alcohol consumption during these events. Nobody wants to be the person that embarrassed themselves in front of the team, so to avoid this predicament, we have a few recommendations for you.
How should I behave?
- Behave as if you would at work – you don’t need to become the life of the party and get overly excited because chances are everyone is already excited and happy to be there.
- Respect your co-worker's personal space.
- Make the effort to talk to everyone, not just those that you talk to regularly.
- If you are joining in on inter-department celebrations, try your best to introduce yourself to everyone and make a bit of small talk. It will also mean that you will know a few more names around the workplace!
How much should I drink?
If you are planning to drive, ensure you do not over consume. The general rule of thumb is around one standard drink per hour. However, we encourage you not to drive at all if you are planning on having a drink.
If you’re planning on drinking consistently during the celebration, it is important to know your own limit. It’s important not to drink too quickly and to understand that some drinks are more potent than others, and that mixing drinks may create a false sense of security where you might have consumed more standard drinks than you realised.
It is an expectation of the organisation that you will take responsibility and monitor your own alcohol consumption and do not consume excessive amounts. The Disability Trust’s Policy H-16 Drug & Alcohol outlines the workplace expectations at work related functions where alcohol is present. A particular take out of the policy:
“2.3.6 The Disability Trust does not condone the excessive consumption of alcohol whilst employees are attending approved work-related functions and does not condone any function that has a purpose or focus on the rapid or over-consumption of alcohol.”
Ensure you keep these considerations in mind when attending celebrations. We hope you enjoy yourself and have fun – responsibly!
