If it’s December, it must be time for holiday parties.
If you are quite the social animal, you probably have been or will be invited to numerous gatherings in upcoming weeks. Parties are fun, but there’s one key thing we need to remember: A party with the people you work with is still work.
Say what? Yes. A work party means your company or nonprofit is footing the bill to spread goodwill and holiday cheer. So you get a date, and a holiday party is probably not the best venue for a first date!
Your date needs to understand all of the “rules” below as well. Your co-workers consider your date as an extension of you.
You get a baby sitter, if needed, and buy a sparkly outfit (if you’re a woman) or clean your suit or decide what fun sweater you will wear. Then off you go to the party place, and it’s generally not where you toil daily.
You may see this as a night of revelry and fun, but remember that people are watching. And by watching, I mean judging.
Their first impression will be your appearance. Men have less reason to be concerned about this. But women? Ladies, if your clothing is too tight, too short, or too low cut, the people you work with daily are noting any “infractions.” Nightclub attire is probably not appropriate. The more conservative you are in your daily attire, the more radical your colleagues will note any deviation from your norm.
The second opportunity for a faux pas commonly involves alcohol, if it is being served. An open bar at any party, but especially a work party, is not a license to get drunk. Each of us have seen employees (or their dates) who seemed to miss this memo!
Drinking to excess results in people doing and saying things they would not do if they were not drinking.
We all have stories, horror stories, of parties we attended when this happened. There are colleagues who become bold and tell the boss what they really think. Others overtly flirt with colleagues or dates, sometimes with embarrassing consequences.
I have known people not to remember their behaviors the morning after. That’s scary. (It’s also dangerous for people to drive, so someone has to play “designated driver” to get them home.)
So if you plan to attend your organization’s party this month, keep this in mind. No matter when the party is held, it’s still work. The party may be on Tuesday right after work or Saturday night. The timing does not matter—it is still work! Please don’t do or say anything you wouldn’t do or say during office hours.
If you remember this, you won’t be the subject of the “can you believe Lynne did X” story at the office the next week.
And now, a happy holiday season to all, and to all a good day!
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