ResolutionsRTK

Dealing with the Fallout of the Office Christmas Party

Tom Pietkiewicz
Principal Consultant

It recently occurred to me that most, if not all, articles about work Christmas parties are written as a warning about what not to do prior to the event. They typically point to the dangers of booze, a relaxed atmosphere, and the ever present "opportunity" to do something out of character that will have lasting consequences. One such article I recently read provided advice about dress code, including a recommendation to avoid white garments or provocative ensembles. The list was extensive and quite humorous, and in the lead up to our own Christmas function prompted one colleague to joke, "I am aiming at complete non-compliance with all the recommendations in the article," to which I replied, "I'm bringing my camera."

This got me thinking. Perhaps the Christmas party is not just a bunch of accidents that simply happen. For many it may actually be an opportunity to snap out of corporate conventions and connect with colleagues on a far more personal and fun level. These Christmas 'accidents' are probably more conscious than they might appear.

I decided to investigate for myself at a recent work function.

Within minutes of walking in I decided to argue humorously with my manager about a project we were working on. A perfect place for it in front of a bunch of colleagues and over a glass of champagne! I also saw the opportunity to negotiate for a raise and an extra week of holidays. I was on a roll. This was easy.

I turned my attention to the producer of this ezine, a lovely young lady, and proceeded to invite myself to Christmas lunch with her family and boyfriend in Mt Gambier. I love the Coonawarra region, and it will be great to pop in.

I thankfully managed to avoid any unnecessary nudity. Altogether, my investigations highlighted to me just how easy it is to cross the line, which makes me think there must be many individuals and managers out there this Christmas wondering how they can reverse or manage the transgressions of the work Christmas party.

For individuals who overstepped the fun mark…

Definitely do not take a day off as this will be seen as avoidance and certainly an opportunity for gossip to reach epic proportions for when you do return.
Try not to over-state your embarrassment, as this can make the issue seem greater than it actually is. Sometimes workplace gossip is the greater issue than the behaviour, and the last thing you want to do is fan the flames.
On a more serious note, do talk to any individuals you might have offended and explain some of the reasons you might have said what you did.

For managers who have tried and failed to batten down the festive hatches…

It occurs to me that the real problem with Christmas function interactions is that many of them are actually quite real and have simply have been repressed, only to come out in a more relaxed and open environment. Some workplaces offer the rarest opportunities for individuals to interact with one another, meaning some team members may never get a chance to relate to others until the end of year event. It's not hard to realise why things can get out of hand. Providing more opportunities for managers and employees to communicate openly and interact in daily operations is the best solution.

Here are a few examples of the sorts of activities and initiatives you can use to build positive and productive relationships between your people, rather than allowing it to build to breaking point in December:

Team building activities
Meetings – much maligned but potentially effective
Taking time to celebrate birthdays over a cake in the kitchen
Setting up social committees
Encourage people to communicate more often and in different ways (even considering social media)

Christmas can be complicated enough with friends and family; there's no need to make it difficult at work as well. Quite simply, an organisation that values its people and places a premium on building positive and productive relationships within and beyond the operational setting is less likely to encounter behavioural issues at Christmas.