Christmas is fast approaching, and so are the work Christmas parties. Whether it is your own Christmas party, your partners or a family member, there are some things you should and definitely should not do when it comes to a work Christmas party.

What you should do:

Like all events, there is etiquette that needs to be adhered to when attending your Christmas party. Here are some things that will increase your chances of having a great night, and also having your job on Monday morning.

• Make sure you behave appropriately for the occasion. As you are surrounded by your co-workers and employers, you should be professional, yet fun. Enjoy the time to socialise with people you would not normally socialise with outside of the office. You could also take the chance to network with other people who may be invited to the Christmas event
• Dress appropriately – if there is a dress code, try and stick to it. If not, dress smart in appropriate non-revealing clothes. HINT: Your fishnet shirt is probably not the best choice for your Christmas party
• Arrive on time – especially if it is a sit down dinner. People who have waited an hour to eat aren’t going to be overly happy to see you
• Have fun – mingle with people in your department that you would not normally talk to. Keep conversations flowing, but stick to relevant and appropriate topics (not the latest monkey YouTube video). If you have been at the company for a while, introduce younger, newer colleagues to each other so they do not feel lost
• Enjoy yourself! Food and alcohol at your boss’s expense – it doesn’t get any better than that!

What you should DEFINITELY not do:

So those are some things you should do at a Christmas party. Here are something’s that should be whole heartedly avoided.

• Probably one of the biggest “no no’s” at a Christmas party is overdoing your alcohol consumption. As tempting as it is to down as much free booze as you can; it is simply inappropriate and not cool. In order to stay out of temptations way, make sure you eat something before you start drinking and have cups of water in between drinks. Also keep the conversations following with your peers – the more you talk, the less likely you will be downing those shots. You do not have to completely avoid the bar, but you should be aware of the limits and keep track of how much you are drinking, in order to keep things fun, but still professional
• If you have had a hard year at work (you’ve worked all those late nights with no recognition), using the Christmas party and the bar tab as an excuse to blow your fuse is not a good idea. Remember you can’t take back any drunken slurs at the CEO
• Don’t make a fool of yourself. Don’t drunkenly confront that idiot in Accounts, or drunkenly confess your undying love to the girl in HR. Just not a good idea
• Don’t’ drink and drive – if your company has not already prearranged transport after the Christmas party, make sure you have plans for friends to pick you up or you have booked a taxi/bus for the ride home
• Make sure you keep your hands to yourself. Even if Rob in Marketing is showing off his six pack, don’t jeopardise your employment by doing something you will regret later
• Even if you have nothing else to talk about – try not to talk shop. The weather is always a good conversation starter

So there are some tips to help you have a fun and memorable Christmas party, whilst still having a job to go to on Monday.

Written by Natassja Ford