Blog Post: The 5 Crucial Rules for Your Work Holiday Party

This weekend I attended my first work party of the holiday season. Seeing as it was not my own it was a great chance for me to spectate and mentally prep myself for the possible pitfalls of the much anticipated, and often abused, work Christmas party. Many a poor decision has been made in this deceptively laid back atmosphere and the time to address the potential land mines isn’t at the beachhead.

To help me work through some ground rules of my own I’ve decided to post a few do’s and don’ts to observe at a work holiday party.

1) Tap it Light – This is the most important and often abused rule of any office party. Many mistakes have been made after exceedingly liberal use of the open bar. The office party is a great time to relax and relate to your co-workers in a more casual manner, drinking can be a healthy addition, just make sure it’s a subtle as opposed to an overt contributor. The biggest problem with abuse of this rule is that it is often the impetus behind abuse of all the others. Foul language, off color jokes, TMI; they’re all the result of excess libations. So, as a rule, tap it light.

2) Engage Spouses/Sig Others – Holiday parties are an opportunity for you to learn more about the people you work with. The best way to do this is by learning about the people most important to them. In addition it will make your co-workers more comfortable if their guest is able to enjoy themselves. The first rule of party conversation is the more the merrier. It can be work engaging the newbie’s early in the night, but if you get them on board early it will be much more fun as the night wears on.

3) Don’t Talk About Work – This rule will be broken. There is no way to spend extended amounts of time with your co-workers and not acknowledge the primary commonality that brought you together. But, as a rule, try to avoid work chatter. It’s boring often default conversation that you can have at any time. It also alienates guests who don’t have the background knowledge to engage in the interaction.

4) Remember Table Manners – You may love the restaurant that is catering the party, and it may seem like a waste to moderate with so much food already paid for, but don’t let your eating habits ruin others appetites. And remember, nothing will destroy your streak of hilarious, witty cocktail banter like an industrial size food sedative.

5) Thank Your Host – It’s easy to feel entitled to a holiday party and as a result take it for granted. The fact is; they’re expensive and a liability and it is a very gracious thing for any employer to do. Make sure to let them know you appreciate the gesture.

In observance of #5 I’d like to take a moment to thank my current and ex employers for engaging themselves in the holiday spirit. For the second year in a row my old accounting firm has invited me to the holiday party, one of the kindest gestures I’ve been a party to, and Jobing is hosting a holiday event this Friday. I’ll do my best to observe theses basic party tenets and encourage you to do the same, but not at the expense of the most important rule of all. Have enough fun that it doesn’t feel like work!