The importance of etiquette at the work party
With your work Christmas party on the horizon, follow this simple etiquette guide to help navigate this social minefield.
■ Do attend. Declining an invitation to the staff party can make you look ungrateful, or like you’re not a team player. If you want to make an early exit, let the organiser know so they don’t overbook at the venue. Try to spend up to an hour at the party for appearances sake, and chat to colleagues and boss.
■ Be on brand. Find out the dress code so you don’t turn up to a fancy restaurant in a sarong and jandals. If it is fancy dress, lean towards the conservative. Should the theme be things that begin with the letter P, choose a pirate or penguin; a provocative ensemble can be misinterpreted.
■ Know your limitations. Do not take the words ‘open bar’ as a personal challenge. Consider any prior issues that may have been noted by yourself, family or friends after you have had a few too many drinks. If after three drinks you are confident, five hilarious, and seven a hellion who settles arguments with their fists, set your bar securely between three and six.
■ Eat a hearty meal beforehand as canapes are an impractical cushion, unless you plan to graze for six hours straight. Consider pasta or pizza.
■ There is a time and a place to be memorable. While you may possess the dance moves of a young Travolta or know all the words to ‘‘Gangnam Style’’ in the original Korean,, is this the right time to demonstrate it? This applies equally to handstands or doing the splits. ■ It is not the time to complain about cutbacks, budget blowouts or fellow colleagues, as the person responsible, or the object of your gossip, may walk past. ■ Roughhousing of any kind should be avoided. Tackling Ricky from Accounts and demanding satisfaction no matter how long he took to process your expenses claim, is not advised.
■ Too much information. Don’t choose this time to share intimate or previously unknown information with co-workers.
■ Know when to bow out gracefully. The last one left standing is the one least likely to be standing come January. ■ Know the guest list. Don’t automatically assume partners are on the guest list; find out if they are invited and whether they are covered by the company tab or have to pay their own way. If your work is relaxed about who you bring, still make sure it is someone appropriate.
■ Do network. If you have career aspirations, take some time to network with people who can influence your career. You may not otherwise get many opportunities to speak to them if they are senior management. But remember it’s an opportunity for everyone to relax and get to know each other better so after ‘shop’ talk, change the subject. Work relationships are as much about rapport with people as getting the job done, so demonstrate you are personable.
■ Behave as though you are being watched. Many promising careers have ground to a halt as a result of drunken indiscretions at company functions.
■ Don’t be a bore. Monopolising the conversation with tales of how great you are will not make people admire you - they’ll just think you’re arrogant. If someone commends you on your work, graciously accept it and move on. Show interest in others and acknowledge the help of those around you.
■ Don’t put your hands where they’re not wanted and don’t flirt; after a few drinks any ‘subtle’ pick up lines are obvious to all. Getting hauled up on a sexual harassment charge is not a great way to celebrate the Christmas holiday period.
■ Avoid other activities such as photocopying butt cheeks, trashing colleagues’ desks or letting the boss’s tyres down.