10 Ways to Avoid Being “The Talk of the Office” at the Holiday Party
Toronto, ON – It’s that time of year again; it’s getting colder outside, Christmas music is taking over the radio, and the office Holiday party is just around the corner. We all have heard the horror stories, or know of that one person who enjoyed the eggnog at little too much and ended up acting completely inappropriate.
Proper office party etiquette should be common sense, however according to the statistics below; some people seem to need a refresher on how to stay out of trouble.
A recent survey of 500 office holiday party goers, conducted by TorontoJobs.ca found that:
- 81% of party attendees have witnessed extreme cases of
intoxication by co-workers
- 62% observed co-workers inappropriately dressed for the
occasion
- 73% of party goers observed unsuitable behavior
(co-workers flirting, verbal fights, etc.)
- Eat, drink and be merry – but in moderation. Excessive drinking could
be cause for an awkward situation come Monday morning in the office. Enjoy
yourself, but use caution – you don’t want to be known for your antics all
through 2014!
- Leave the mistletoe at home. The office party is not
the place to flirt and try to find a date for New Year’s Eve!
- RSVP yes. Don’t pass up the invitation to the annual holiday
party; not attending could hurt your reputation.
- Watch your words. Just because the setting is more relaxed, doesn’t mean
your language should be. More people than you think take offense to
profane language.
- Dress appropriately. The office party isn’t the right place to show off your
new mini skirt or backless dress.
- Absolutely no gossiping about other coworkers. You never know who is
listening. Keep in mind that with the evolution of social networking; news
travels fast!
- Take the office party as an opportunity to get to know
your coworkers. Create
conversation that doesn’t involve business – show your coworkers that you
have a life outside of the office.
- Give thanks. Be sure to thank your boss and whoever hosted/organized
the party before leaving. You don’t want to be remembered for being rude.
- Avoid controversial topics such as politics and
religion. The
office party is a time for relaxing, not heated discussions.
- Don’t overstay your welcome. Arrive shortly after the
start time and mingle, but don’t overstay your welcome by partying until
the wee hours of the night or crashing on your bosses couch.
Please feel free to re-print this article giving credit to TorontoJobs.ca. If you have any questions please Email Jill Walker or call (905) 566-5627 Ext. 4001