With Christmas on its way the dreaded works parties are in full swing. These events can be a great way to get to know your colleagues “a little better” and to bond. But enjoying yourself a little too much can be a poor career move and could even cost you your job. Sometimes a little restraint is needed which can be easier said than done especially if you have 1 or 2 too many drinks. We all speak our mind after a few drinks so if you have been hiding an office crush for the past few months or harbouring ill feelings towards a fellow colleague, you might want to leave a little early to avoid making a fool of yourself.
Here are 10 things you may want to consider before you sink that first pint.
1. Don’t drink too much – Most people like to let their hair down (if you still have some) around Christmas but the works do is not always the best place to get too drunk. It’s not going to look good if the your employer see’s you collapsed in the corner with paramedics trying to revive you!
2. Talk about work – Ok this is a difficult one, the one thing you have in common (work) you are not supposed to talk about. But look at this way, this is the one time all year where you get to know your colleagues and if you can’t think of something other than work to talk about the night could be pretty boring.
3. Destroy the buffet – Don’t overdo it just because the food is free! Sitting in the corner stuffing down sausage rolls in never a good look. Couple that with drinking too much could leave you feeling a little queasy and barfing over the CEO’s shoes, not cool!
4. Ask for a pay raise – Just because the boss had a few drinks and is feeling festive does not mean they are going to give you bumper pay rise (or even a small one). There is a time and place for those discussions and round the bar is not one of them!
5. Picking a fight – If you have been biting your tongue about how a colleague makes you feel all year now is not the time to stop! If there is someone you really dislike, just stay out of their way. The last thing you want is blazing row (or even worse) in front of your colleagues.
6. Dress appropriately – Everyone wants to dress up if they are going out, but don’t let it all hang out. Boob tubes and miniskirts may be appropriate for a night on the town, but your boss may not want to see that side of you if you know what I mean. Same goes for the guys, sleeveless skin tight vests might be your Saturday night staple, but you might want to consider putting the muscles away for the works do.
7. Don’t be anti-social – It’s not a good idea not to go to the Christmas party, sure they can be a bit awkward at times but not going is just going to make you look like the awkward one. Try to at least make it for an hour, try to have a good time and talk to the people you get on well with in work. How bad can it be… It’s a part after all!
8. No dirty dancing – When everyone hits the dance floor at the end of the night, don’t see this as an opportunity to start grinding up and down your fellow colleague. It may seem funny at first but it’s only going to end going one of two ways….
9. Don’t make a move on someone – If you have been building up the courage to ask a colleague out over the past year the Christmas party is not the time to do it, especially if you have had too much to drink! Lunging in for kiss in front of the MD is not the most of romantic of moves and will most probably leave you red faced, especially on Monday morning!
10. Don’t drink and drive – This is should always be the case! If you want to lose your job, this is probably the best way to do it. Even if you don’t get pulled over by the police van half way down the road, you will probably get spotted by someone and as soon as it get round work that you are a drink driver you will quickly lose friends. Book yourself a taxi and try and share it with that colleague you have had your eye on all year 
Don’t forget if you are having a party in your office you will need Office Liability Insurance just in case of disasters.
