Going to a work Christmas party? You need to read this….

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of going to your work Christmas party…..Fun, Awkward, PARTY!

If PARTY is your first thought, please think again!  Work office parties are meant to be fun for employees, but not THAT much fun.  If your office party includes alcohol here are a couple of things to remember:

• Set a limit on your drinks, drink water in between alcohol drinks, and eat your dinner.  It is not okay for your boss to need to drive you home because you are passed out in the corner mumbling about how much your raise was this year.  As funny as that sounds, it does happen. Especially when drinks are served with no charge.  Think of your office party as an extension of your office, you don’t want to regret anything that was said that night and question whether you still have a job when you go back!
• If you do drink, make sure you are responsible enough to have a sober driver.  The time to coordinate your driver plans is before the party, not after you have been drinking. Ask a coworker that does not drink to be your designated driver, your husband/wife, or use Uber or Lyft (you can schedule these ahead of time) especially if your job involves some type of driving for the company.  We all know it is illegal to drive when intoxicated.  Your boss or manager also know this, and they are responsible for your actions to some degree.  If you drive home while intoxicated it could cause them to question your actions at other times in your career and with your clients.
• Be aware of social media!  Everyone has a phone with a camera these days and it takes one second to post a picture to social media.  The pictures that are posted to the company’s social media should be filtered, but they could still be circulated to clients and managers in the organization. Make sure your pictures will not have an impact on the business.

If you are an introvert that struggles to be around crowds of people, Awkward is probably what you are thinking.  It is important to make sure you conversate with people at the party.  You don’t want to be known as the “odd” person sitting in the corner playing on your phone.  That could also send a bad message to your managers and owners.  Also, make sure you thank the owners/managers for the party.  While most people believe a Christmas party is just something that all companies have, that is not true.  Your employer is not required to have a Christmas party.  They are purposefully spending money to show you how much they appreciate your hard work!  A little appreciation will go a long way!

Your employer does want you to have fun at the party so enjoy yourself!  Have a couple of drinks, enjoy the food, and think of some topics of conversations you can have with coworkers before the party.  If your party is a potluck dinner and some of the food looks or smells questionable, don’t eat it!    Keep it simple this holiday season and enjoy yourself!  No one will remember if you bring premade cookies from the grocery store and a gift card you purchased online 5 minutes before the party, they will remember the fun times everyone experienced!  Have fun enjoying the holiday festivities and don’t stress over things you can’t control!