Our Human Resources Blog

The holiday season is upon us once again! It's the time of year when many organizations are hosting their holiday events. The objective for most organizations when planning their celebrations is to provide a safe and memorable experience for their employees. 

Below are a few suggestions for employers for hosting a "safe" holiday party:

• Establish a clear company policy that sets expectations regarding employee behavior at sponsored events.
• Remind employees that work rules regarding appropriate behavior and harassment apply to all employer-sponsored events.
• Remind employees they represent the company and should dress accordingly.
• If serving alcohol, take the appropriate steps to control consumption, require accountability, and limit exposure.
• Consider limiting the number of drinks an employee can have by issuing two or three drink tickets.
• Stop serving alcohol at least two hours before the end of the event.
• Make it clear that employees who become intoxicated will be subject to discipline.
• Provide a variety of non-alcoholic beverages for designated drivers and others who don’t wish to drink.
• Make employee attendance at company-sponsored events voluntary.
• Address any religious considerations of employees by scheduling events during the week (Monday through Thursday).  Similarly, the holiday party should not be tied to any particular religion. 

Holiday events are meant to reward employees, boost morale and provide fun, but they are still business events. Employers should clearly communicate to all employees that a holiday party is a work related activity and rules for appropriate work behavior always apply.

HRi Wishes you a Happy & Safe Holiday!