Workplace Party Etiquette

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The company holiday party is a time to let loose, have a little fun and celebrate the spirit of the season
with your colleagues. But it's also a minefield of potential disaster; one false move, and your workplace
reputation could be ruined. With the advent of social media, the chances of your exploits going viral raises
the stakes even higher.
Here are top tips for balancing fun and good cheer with professionalism and decorum.
Do show up -- or, at the very least,
RSVP
Be sure to respond to an invitation with 48 hours,
regardless of whether it comes via evite, email,
telephone or traditional methods.As much as you
may not wish to attend, you must. Attendance is
practically mandatory -- failing to go to the annual
holiday party sends a negative message. If you
absolutely can't go, you should at least RSVP with
your regrets as early as possible. And if you say
you're going to go, you have to follow through.
Don't bring an extra guest
Be sure to read the invitation carefully so you
know the company policy on guests.You should
discreetly check ahead of time to determine if
the event is employees only or if spouses, dates
or another Plus One is appropriate.
Don't Drink Too Much
you can handle it—is OK. Although you may know
a third drink won't be a problem for you, keep in
mind that perception is everything. You want to
avoid looking like you are drinking too much.
Don't Treat the Office Party Like a
Singles Bar
than what their jobs are. An office party gives you
a chance to become acquainted with them on a
whole other level. Getting to see them in a
different environment may make you look at them
differently, and Jim (or Jane) from accounting may
suddenly look a lot more appealing under bar
lights than cubicle lights. Ignore your animal
instincts. Workplace romances—or worse, one
night stands—can be disastrous.
Don't Flirt or Act in a Sexually
Provocative Manner
it's entirely innocent. The message it sends to your
colleagues isn't. Flirting or acting in a sexually
provocative manner can, at best, make colleagues
lose respect for you on a professional level. At
worst it can end with a claim of sexual harassment
against you.
Party clothes are perfectly acceptable—and
probably even expected—for the office party.
So go ahead and toss aside your usual work
attire and wear something festive. Sparkles,
bright colors, and sequins are appropriate, but it
is crucial that you maintain the same
respectability as for a typical day at work. Don't
show too much skin or wear anything see-
through or form-fitting.
Keep Your Guard Up
It is okay to relax and have fun. It's a party after all.
But don't lose sight of the fact that you are still at
work, even if the setting is different than the one
you are in daily.
Don't show a side of yourself that could be
embarrassing or cause their opinion of you to
change for the worse. For example, don't share too
much personal information if you wouldn't want it
to be known in a professional setting.
Don't Tell Off-Color Jokes
Office parties are usually light-hearted events. Feel
free to tell jokes, as long as you are sure they won't
offend your coworkers or boss (or worse, his or
her boss). Many people do not enjoy off-color
jokes, so refrain from telling any. On a related note,
you should also be wary of using foul language.
Parties are a good time for
distributing office gifts
office holiday party is a good time to give holiday
gifts to employees. Just remember: If you want to
recognize a specific employee with a special gift,
be discreet. The same applies for gifts exchanged
between coworkers. This will avoid jealousy issues
with workers who may feel short changed.
Put Your Phone Away
and give them time to socialize with each other.
How can you take advantage of this opportunity if
you are constantly checking your phone? Put it away
and try to focus on the here and now. If you must
check your phone occasionally, slip away to do so.
Of course, keep your phone handy for taking
pictures! Share them on social media later.
Don't Talk About People Behind
Their Backs
Whether on the job or at a work-related event, it
is in poor taste to gossip. You may run out of
things to discuss with your colleagues so you
decide to fill the silence by talking about those
people who couldn't attend the festivities. If the
fact that it's just not a nice thing to do doesn't
deter you, think about how you will feel if word
gets back to him or her.
Do greet hosts, colleagues and party
planners
When you arrive at the party, be sure to greet,
thank and shake hands with your hosts and the
party planners. If you're working for a company
or partnership owned by more than one
individual, be sure to thank all of them. Chat
briefly and compliment an aspect of the party that
you sincerely enjoyed such as the catering, music,
or décor. Limit this to five minutes and then move
on.
Everyone watches the entrance to a room, so when
you arrive, do not head straight for the bar or buffet,
says Schweitzer. Enter, pause, step to the right, greet
and shake hands with the person who's standing
there. Executives do enjoy speaking with employees,
and your company party may be one of the few times
you see them in person. Introduce yourself, state the
department you work in and shake hands. This is a
good time to become visible to your organization's
leadership. Greet your superiors, and chat with as
many colleagues as you can, introducing yourself to
those that you do not know well. Greet co-workers
warmly, and with a smile on your face
Say thank you
When your office party offers food, drink, music
and the chance to let loose from the office for a
while, it's important to show your gratitude to
the party planners, organizers and your boss.This
doesn't have to be elaborate; a quick "thank you"
before you leave is all that's necessary.
Show up the next day
Nothing looks worse than calling in "sick" the day
after the office party, even if you overindulged
and/or stayed out too late afterward. If you've
followed these tips, you shouldn't have this
problem, but in the event you do, well, there's
nothing to do but suck it up and head to the office.
Get some face time with the boss
Chances are your boss will be in a good mood at
the holiday party, and he’s probably hoping he’ll get
a chance to talk to you a little bit without the
pressure of work and your respective roles
interfering with the conversation. Now is the time
to discover if you have a favorite sports team or
book in common. Don’t think of it as a chance for
Machiavellian maneuvering, but rather as an
opportunity to get to know your boss better as a
person.
Don’t be the first to arrive or the last
to leave
party is for.
An office party should be about mingling, not
brainstorming. This is not the place to begin
sharing your thoughts on next year’s marketing
budget or what vendor you want to use for a
software update. If you do talk business, pay
attention to people’s subtle cues to see if they’re
looking to make a graceful exit from too much
shop talk.
when deciding who to ask. Avoid bringing
someone who might exhibit inappropriate
behavior—even if he or she is your significant
other. Your plus-one's bad behavior will reflect
poorly on you. If you deem it necessary, remind
your guest to follow the same rules to which
you are expected to adhere.
When celebrated in an appropriate, respectful way, your annual holiday party tradition can create a sense
of camaraderie, develop stronger office relationships, show employee appreciation and can be collectively
great for morale, says Lavelle. Armed with these tips, you're sure to have a great time and make a
wonderful impression.