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The works Christmas party...

Andrew Weir • November 29, 2023

Some top HR Toolbox Tips employers to be thinking about...

Christmas is a fantastic time of the year for many people, so before the drinks start flowing, here are our top HR Toolbox Tips for UK employers who are planning a works Christmas party...

HR Toolbox Tip 1 - Invite ALL employees:

It's super important that absolutely everyone within the Company is invited. Don't make any assumptions about who will or won't be attending, invite everyone and let the team decide if they are/aren't coming. The last thing you want is to accidentally miss someone off the invite list and the next thing you know you have a grievance to manage through.

HR Toolbox Tip 2 - Think carefully about the timing:

If the day after your Christmas party is usually a working day, have a look at if another day might be better, or if it must be that day, can you close or open a touch later the following day? The last thing you want is colleagues turning in with a heavy hangover, or not turning in at all.

HR Toolbox Tip 3 - When a free bar isn't a free bar:

Most of the HR queries we deal with around Christmas parties tend to revolve around people drinking too much alcohol and behaving inappropriately in some way; so telling the boss they are a d***, or declaring their unwanted undying love for a colleague.

These sorts of things and many more can open up a potentially costly world employers want to do all they can to try and avoid, so consider alternatives to a free bar like buying everyone a Company gift (not booze), or if it must be a free bar, setting a spending/drinks limit.

HR Toolbox Tip 4 - Remind the team the Christmas do is a work event:

Right let's get this on the table, no employers want to be like The Grinch, however it's worthwhile reminding colleagues well in advance that the Christmas do is an organised work related event and that all the Company HR policies and procedures apply to it.

HR Toolbox Tip 5 - Nominate a couple of senior business leaders to stay sober and present throughout the event:

These colleagues are more likely to spot if someone has had a bit too much to drink and their behavior is getting out of hand. If that sort of thing happens, you want to be consistent, nip things in the bud and have a quite word with the people involved to get the party back in full swing.

If that doesn't work, you might need to move to asking a colleague to leave early and call them a taxi home.

If none of that works, or despite your best efforts you miss something on the night, deal with whatever is reported to have happened as soon after the event as possible; unless of course exceptional action is needed on the night.

HR Toolbox Tip 6 - Remember the employer can be liable:

We won't bore you with the details, however trust us there is a whole load of case law that shows employers can be liable for the actions of their colleagues immediately before, during and after a works Christmas party; so we'd urge you give some good thought to the above points and after that, have a fantastic time with your team!

In most cases your works Christmas party will be a cracking event that you and your team have a great time at with you all talking positively about it for weeks to come.

Merry Christmas everyone from all of us at HR Toolbox!

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