OK. You’ve been working hard and you are already feeling the effects of the Christmas frenzy. A blow-out is long over due. Great. Just make sure you don’t make the office party the place where you finally let your hair down. That would just be unwise and career limiting. So muster up all of your self control, bite the bullet and be on your best behaviour for the several hours that you’ll have to partake in this annual ritual. You’ll look good for it…or at the very least, you won’t have to worry about not having a job afterwards.
Here’s a list of the top ten faux pas that you will certainly want to avoid this holiday season:
- In spite of how sloppy, drunk and flirtatious the boss’s girlfriend/wife/boyfriend/husband is, do not, I repeat, do not reciprocate any advances. It will end badly.
- For every glass of wine that you have, have 2 glasses of water. You’ll appear so responsible that you might even be considered for promotion.
- Do not wear any revealing clothing. A lot of skin at a work function is going to ruffle someone and get tongues wagging.
- Try not to talk about work…unless your colleagues are so conversationally inept that this is all that remains to avoid long painfully awkward silences.
- Do not say anything bad about any of your colleagues, no matter how annoying they may be. Nothing is worse than a well attended, high profile dust-up at the office Christmas party.
- As big as it may be, do not brag about your year-end bonus. No matter how happy you are with yourself, it’s best not to mention it. There will be folks there who will get little or nothing and they will, rightly so, want to punch you.
- Do not ask your boss for a raise. No matter how comfortable you’re both feeling under the social lubrication of alcohol, this is not the place. Bad idea.
- Do not at any point display your exotic (or erotic) dancing skills…no matter how much you may be coaxed. Bad idea.
- Remember that tossing your cookies on the dance floor usually isn’t viewed as a career enhancing move.
- Unless you are honestly sick, and have a doctor’s note to prove it, it’s best to attend.
These tips should help you avoid the many potential tiger traps of your office Christmas party and keep you walking with your head held high into the office next day.
