You’ve planned your outfit accordingly, your OOO is activated and you’ve even pre-booked your taxi home to ensure you leave at an acceptable hour… yes, it’s that time of year again: the office Christmas party.
Despite a recent survey finding that the majority of workers (83%) would prefer a Christmas bonus over a Christmas party, the tradition to get everyone together remains—only 5% of workers tend to get both a Christmas party and a bonus.
The biggest bugbear when it comes to a work gathering is small talk with 45% listing this as the most-hated aspect, followed by drunk co-workers.
So with this in mind, we’re detailing the five things you should never do (or say) with regards to your work Christmas party, whether your employer is pulling out all the stops or your festive shindig simply consists of a few drinks al desko.
1. Decline the invitation
If your office Christmas party conflicts with a holiday you’ve booked months in advance or a family event you can’t miss, your employer will usually understand and make allowances.
However, if you simply don’t feel like attending your Christmas party, try and show your face for a couple of hours at least.
Your superiors shouldn’t judge your commitment to the job or your skills as a team player by how many social events you attend, but they most likely will.
2. Talk about money
While it may be tempting to engage your boss in a chat about your salary, particularly if you rarely get one-on-one face time with them and that second glass of fizz is making you feel more courageous, the Christmas party is not the time nor place.
3. Or a promotion
Even if you’ve been hitting your professional milestones and smashing goals and targets, cornering your boss and asking them about getting a promotion is the quickest way to ensure you don’t land one.
Instead, use this time to network and build up your rapport with your colleagues and managers, which will be more beneficial to you in the long run when it comes to negotiating a raise the right way.
4. Tell people how you really feel about them
From telling your desk neighbour that their phone notifications drive you crackers to informing your line manager that their inability to bin the empty coffee cups on their desk gives you the ick, the office Christmas party is not the time to air any grievances you have.
5. Tag people in photos on social media
From group selfies to more candid shots, you should refrain from posting photos of your colleagues on your social media accounts without asking their permission first. The same rule applies when it comes to tagging people, especially on a professional platform that is used for work purposes.
Looking for more Christmas etiquette tips? We’ve devised the perfect OOO template to use over the Christmas break and the best Christmas jokes to tell your colleagues.
