Important Holiday Office Christmas Parties Do’s & Don’ts!

Office Christmas Party Season is HERE, (In fact, we had our Townsquare Media Christmas Party just the other nite). With that said, I remembered an article that I read on Partyonwashington.com, which should serve as a guide on how to behave at such a function. Here's the article:    

‘Tis the season to attend work Christmas parties, these can really help or hurt your career, so pay attention to some simple rules and let the merriment begin.

1. You have to go no if’s and’s or but’s! Put aside all your office gripes and grumbles and get into the spirit of the party. The only way out of an office party is if you are sick, really sick and if you are really sick, stay home but don’t forget to call and give your regrets *cough, cough*.

2. Don’t get there too early or too late and don’t leave too early or too late. You don’t want to be there before the party starts with Betty the Brown Noser or the last one to leave with Larry the Lush. Keep to the time on the invitation and if the party is at your boss’s home a small housewarming gift of flowers or wine might be appropriate. Hey, a little brown nosing never hurt anyone… just ask Betty!

3. Stick to the dress code on the invitation and always err on the side of modesty. Dressing for an office Christmas party can be tricky and unless you work at a nudist colony, make sure that your outfit isn’t too revealing.

4. Don’t spend all night talking about work or how great you are, chances are if you are really great at your job the boss knows and if you aren’t I bet he knows that too. Just keep the conversations upbeat and remember not to gossip about the other goofballs you work with…the boss is like Santa he knows who has been naughty and nice.

5. Keep the alcohol to a minimum. Fight the temptation of an open bar and drink in moderation. You don’t want to do the walk of shame to your desk on Monday morning, or get some stupid moniker like Larry the Lush, who is still trying to live down “one too many” at the Christmas party last year! Stay sober, save the drinking for during the week when you are trying to forget where you work and who you work with…

6. Use your best manners. Try not to tell inappropriate jokes or talk about the three no-no’s; politics, religion and money. Many a good career has gone up in flames due to political or religious debates. So keep the conversation fun and light and if you have to look over your shoulder to tell a joke chances are good you should keep it to yourself.

7. Keep your hands to yourself. This is not the time to profess your undying love or attraction to anyone! If you have a crush on someone at work head out on the town and look for a new object of your desires, office romances can cause problems if they don’t work out and if by some miracle they do , then you are with that special someone for 24 hours a day…ewwwwwwwww.

8. If you want to put your fanny on the office copier and make copies you don’t have to do it at the Christmas Party, you have 364 days in a year to pull that off so wait till you are back at work and get PAID to do it!! That being said if you are sober and it still seems like a good idea to go on the office “photo booth” than make sure any tattoos or incriminating evidence is hidden. It is hard to say it isn’t your butt when there is a tattoo that says it is…

Great Info!........In fact, I wish I would've read this article BEFORE I showed up to our Christmas Party wearing my infamous "Mistletoe Belt".....:-)