The alcohol is overflowing and everyone is breaking free from the stress of your 8-5 job.
While it may be the perfect time to relax, it can also be that time when your job will clash with your borderline alcoholism.
You might think it’s just a small negligible detail, but the devil is always in the details. But you don’t have to suffer the consequences of your alcohol-induced misbehaviour, so long as you don’t do any of these.
Stalking the waiters for free booze.
Everyone’s staring at you and they’re silently concluding that you have drinking problems.
Wear something that catches everyone’s attention… in a bad way.
Sure you want to get out of your pantsuit, but it is not an excuse to seemingly wear nothing at all. The Guardian tells us that the office Christmas party is not the time to experiment with that little black number or that comedy suit.
Speak words you’ll definitely regret.
Getting drunk and badmouthing your boss or your colleagues or making them the punch lines to your jokes will not only elicit laughter but a termination letter as well.
Dance like it’s the 80s.
Only a very select few can pull off conquering the dance floor and still have their dignity intact. Make sure you’re one of those before you start gyrating amidst everyone’s incredulous stares.
Consider the party as a performance appraisal night with your boss.
It’s a party. Period.
Flirt your way to office gossip.
You’ve had a few cocktails and your colleague appears hotter than he usually is but the repercussions of cozying up to an officemate extend beyond party hours— especially if everyone’s watching.
Be in every photo.
Everyone’s having fun and you wouldn’t have time to check how you look. If you don’t want to have to deal with scandalous photos on social in the ensuing days, face away from the flashes of the camera.
Display sexual inclination.
You have the hots for someone you’re senior so you think it’s perfectly okay to rub off that energy when you’ve had too much to drink. Definitely not okay. If you are single and want to meet someone consider the office party off-limits. Yes use it as an opportunity to let your hair down and have a good time but never use it as a place to have a fling or one nightstand. If you are keen to meet someone and you should use a dating service which is a more appropriate way of meeting people.
Also read: 4 ways to find love in Australia
Get in a verbal or physical confrontation.
Or suffer the wrath of smirks and stares when you walk down the hallway to work for the rest of eternity.
Skip work the morning after.
Having too much fun is not an excuse to miss out on work you’re getting paid to do. Even Christmas parties can’t change company policy.