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Oh boy, the office Christmas party is right around the corner! That means free booze, free food, and a fancy-schmancy restaurant you probably wouldn’t schlep to alone. They’re not always a cocktail-fueled romp, but they are a good place to schmooze with the higher-ups and stuff your face with tortellini.
However, every year, employees tend to embarrass themselves. It’s hard to blame them—endless champagne flutes and a devil-may-care attitude often land the best of us in hot water. That’s why this year, we thought we’d go over some of the biggest no-nos to avoid at the office shindig. (And no, we’re not just talking about your attire. As it turns out, there are plenty of ways to humiliate yourself, all of which could land you in hot water once the dust settles.)
Try Not to Get Too Wasted
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Alright, this one should be a no-brainer, but we can’t exactly control ourselves around free liquor. Not to mention, employers usually encourage you to have fun! While most companies won’t bat an eye if you get a little tipsy, it’s another story if you start staggering around.
Too much alcohol can also lead to some pretty embarrassing mishaps; the only thing worse is not remembering the next morning. You’re also talking about hangovers, slip-and-fall injuries, or hurling in the bathroom. As you can probably guess, that’s no way to impress people.
It really depends on how you handle your booze. If you’re someone who’s known to lash out or start slurring through speeches, you might want to curb how much you drink. If, on the other hand, you just walk around shaking hands and kissing babies (not literally), you’re likely fine.
Don’t Just Skip It—And Don’t Leave Early Either
It’s tempting to ditch the festivities, especially as a newly hired employee. It also doesn’t help if you hate the people you work with. But Christmas parties are about saving face, and even if your boss doesn’t say it aloud, attendance is likely mandatory.
Try to think of the positives. You’ll score a free meal, and some companies even let partners tag along (just make sure you ask before dragging someone along). Some employees also come alive outside of the office, so you never know which acquaintances could blossom into friends.
Leaving early isn’t really an option either. You may not be having a nice time, but at the end of the day, your company poured a lot of time and effort into the junction. Leaving before the appetizer not only makes you look ungrateful, but it also looks like you aren’t a team player.
Forget About Flirting
We’ve seen it a thousand times before: the classic meet-cute office romance that finally reaches a head at the Christmas party. They sneak off together. No one notices. Fireworks ensue in a broom closet somewhere, and despite it being a horrible idea, it all works out in the end.
As nice as that sounds, this isn’t a Hallmark movie. It’s still a work function, and openly flirting with the cute receptionist—or heaven forbid, your boss—looks real bad. First of all, you have no idea if they’re taken. Second, even if they’re single, you’re in a public setting that thrives under professionalism. Thirdly, you have no idea how they’ll take it.
The jury’s still out on whether office romances in general are a good idea, but if you’re going to shoot your shot, at least wait until your boss is out of the room. A Christmas party isn’t like Vegas; whatever happens in the restaurant will likely get brought up at the water cooler.
Watch Your Tongue
The drinks are flowing, and conversations aren’t far behind. Now’s the perfect time to get to know your coworkers…under the right circumstances. It’s easy to assume a tipsy colleague will gossip with you, but confiding in the wrong person could land you in the boss’s office.
It’s hard to know who’s just making small talk and who you can actually trust. Most offices aren’t a free-for-all Thunder Dome, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t vying for a promotion. That means anything you say could easily trickle into other cliques, leaving you to fend for yourself after the holidays.
We’re not saying you should avoid talking to people! If anything, anti-social behavior is a pretty big no-no, too. However, try to keep things professional, even when you’re three shots deep. You’ll feel a lot better knowing you didn’t spill the beans to Jenny in accounting.
Office Christmas parties are only as fun as you make them. Not every company can afford a steakhouse. Some companies only rent out the break room. However they look, you’re one step closer to a much-deserved holiday break, so it’s time to make merry and let loose a little—you know, within reason!
