Blog

Oh, Behave

December 9, 2010

By Barbara Haubrich-Hass, ACP/CAS

The office parties are underway now that the holiday season has arrived.  While office parties are a time for you to enjoy the company of your co-workers and celebrate the season, a recent study showed that "about 40% of workers say they've either embarrassed themselves or know someone who has at a work holiday party.  And a shocking 23%--1 in 4!--have been reprimanded for their actions.  This behavior may include saying something inappropriate to a colleague (7%) or boss (4%), or drinking too  much."   The last thing that you will want to do in this economic downturn is to jeopardize your job with bad behavior at the office party.  Here are some tips to keep your behavior in check:

• Never forget that you are still among your colleagues and boss at office gatherings.  Just because the party is not at work doesn't mean that the same rules don't apply.  If you can't say something at work, don't say it at the office party. 
• Keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum.  Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and that is when you may say or do something you will regret in the morning. 
• It is okay to leave if you feel you cannot control yourself or you feel the party is going in a direction that you don't want to participate in.  You can always make an excuse as to why you must leave early, but still be acknowledged for showing up.