In this age of tough sexual harassment and employment discrimination laws, Corpedia.com gives its annual tips to keep the lawsuit “Grinch” from stealing your company party’s holiday cheer.
- Keep Santa in line.
Don’t allow your employees to sit on his lap. The local Rent-a-Santa probably doesn’t conduct background checks.
- Watch the holiday “Cheers.”
Keep a close eye on alcohol consumption and inebriated employees. If necessary, arrange for transportation. The price for cab fares is far better than the cost of a negligence lawsuit due to a drunk-driving employee.
- Assign designated “party watchers.”
Make sure they’re sticklers (like those accounting types) who will be strict on excessive drinking or other inappropriate behavior.
- Don’t ignore feisty holiday spirit.
Overly romantic displays of affections can be a serious matter.
- Watch the reindeer games.
Discourage activities that invite touching or personal revelations. This includes the all-time party favorite “The Rumba Line.”
- Encourage employees to bring their significant others
.
Their presence discourages intra-office flirting and almost always ensures your workers are good little boys and girls.
- Monitor any gift giving
.
Discourage the exchange of offensive or inappropriate gifts that have sexual or romantic overtones.
- Start and end the party early.
This can keep “God rest ye merry gentlemen” from becoming “Bob, arrest these merry gentlemen!”
- Lock up the copy machine.
Blotchy copying problems may be the least of your worries if daring employees get their hands on it.
SOURCE: Corpedia, Mesa, AZ, December 16, 1999.