Having an office or works Christmas party this week? If so, what’s the company policy and what is regarded as acceptable behaviour?

Research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, (CIPD) quoted in The Guardian’s Workblog,  suggests 10% of workers know of a colleague who has either been disciplined or dismissed for inappropriate behaviour at a Christmas party.

Common reasons apparently include fighting, threatening behaviour, sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination on the grounds of disability or religion, and “other inappropriate behaviour” which could include, for example, unorthodox use of the office photocopier, amorous activity on company premises or insulting the boss.

As the Workblog sagely advises: ‘Remember… your bottom and the office photocopier should never meet.’

Petra Wilton of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), again quoted in the Guardian, says that their research indicates that 41 per cent of companies are not having a party this year.

But she says: “In a climate of redundancies and stress, no one will expect a lavish do, but cancelling any kind of end of year celebration altogether can be a blow to people who have worked incredibly hard through a difficult year. Even if the budget is tiny it is still worth showing your appreciation in a small way.

“An end of year party is the traditional time to thank your staff for their hard work and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to show your appreciation. Buying mince pies and chocolates or providing an early finish so the team can go out offers a chance to say thank you and to enjoy a more informal environment.”

But one team is not going to be so lucky. According to media reports Harry Redknapp has banned Tottenham players from having a Christmas party. Manchester City have held a fancy-dress Christmas party and Arsenal’s players have been pictured enjoying a night out in London, The Guardian reports.

But  Redknapp believes a squad night out can only spell trouble at a time when they face a run of four Premier League games in a fortnight.

“No more Christmas parties. We are too busy playing football, we have too many games and they have to concentrate on playing and getting on with their football,” he said.

I for one won’t be feeling sorry for them – after all they get paid an awful lot more than their fans.  But perhaps Harry should go round the dressing room with a plate of mince pies at half-time, just to avoid being dubbed a Scrooge.

www.cipd.co.uk

www.managers.org.uk

www.the guardian.co.uk

Visit the Fuse Learning website: www.fuselearning.co.uk

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