Office Christmas party
Office party season is upon us. For many, this will be an opportunity to relax, have fun and build all-important relationships outside the normal working day. It’s also time for employers to reward and acknowledge the hard work employees have put in this year. But whether you’ve planned your event at a much-loved local place or a new and different venue, remember that one thing has changed: your level of legal responsibility.Your new duties – what you need to know
We’re not here to put a dampener on your festivities but with the recent introduction of the Worker Protection Act 2023, it’s good to be clued up on where to be vigilant and what practical measures to take. One mistake could have long-lasting personal and business consequences. A relaxed atmosphere, particularly with the inclusion of alcohol, may lower inhibitions usually robust in the office. This can lead to inappropriate and unwanted behaviour. Boundaries may be crossed or tempers frayed, the results of which may only come to light days after. Then the complications and distress of investigations and disciplinaries may follow, impacting careers, reputations and the company as a whole. These things are no fun for anyone.Act now
The recent changes in the law place new duties on employers to be proactive when it comes to sexual harassment. That means taking preventative measures to ensure the safety of employees and that includes the office Christmas party. What you need to do:- Embed a culture of respect and inclusion at every level through clearly communicating behavioural expectations, so that nobody can be in any doubt about what is required of them.
- Ensure leadership and management role model expected behaviours, mindful of the example they’re setting.
- Remember that alcohol is the root cause of many a long-regretted incident as some lose their sober sense of judgment. Think about what will be on offer, whether things like a free bar for the whole event are a good idea and what you can do to moderate consumption – like structuring the evening around a meal or other activity.
- Send out an email to everyone a few days beforehand encouraging people to have an amazing time but to be respectful. Remind them to review the anti-harassment policy and attach a copy.
- Send a similar email to managers and leaders reminding them of their custodianship.
- Have fun. This is an opportunity for everyone to let their hair down and kick back for a while – which is all the more possible when everyone knows they are safe and they know exactly what’s behaviourally expected of them.