Like many other employers, you may be planning an office holiday party. But don’t get carried away with the excitement of the festivities and forget about keeping your employees safe and avoiding liability. Serving employees alcohol at company-sponsored parties can have serious and sometimes tragic consequences for your workers and your organization. If an employee drinks too much and gets into an accident on the way home, you could be held liable. Plus, sexual harassment complaints tend to increase when alcohol consumption goes up.
Here are nine tips, offered by the U.S. Department of Labor, to help you host a safe and sound holiday party:
- Be honest with employees. Make sure your employees know your workplace substance abuse policy and that the policy addresses the use of alcoholic beverages in any work-related situation and office social function.
- Post the policy. Also, before an office party, use break room bulletin boards, office email, and paycheck envelopes to communicate your policy and concerns.
- Reinvent the office party concept. Why have the typical office party? Try something new, like an indoor carnival, a group outing to an amusement park, or a volunteer activity with a local charity.
- Make sure employees know when to say when. If you do serve alcohol at an office event, make sure all employees know that they are welcome to attend and have a good time, but that they are expected to act responsibly.
- Make it the office party of choice. Make sure there are plenty of nonalcoholic beverages available.
- Eat…and be merry! Avoid serving lots of salty, greasy, or sweet foods which tend to make people thirsty. Serve foods rich in starch and protein which stay in the stomach longer and slow the absorption of alcohol in the bloodstream.
- Designate party managers. Remind managers that even at the office party, they may need to implement the company’s alcohol and substance abuse policy.
- Arrange alternative transportation. Anticipate the need for alternative transportation for all partygoers and make special transportation arrangements in advance of the party. Encourage all employees to make use of the alternative transportation if they consume any alcohol.
- Serve none for the road. Stop serving alcohol before the party officially ends.
For more on avoiding problems with holiday festivities, check out our online story, Hosting a Holiday Party the Smart Way. (Start your guest access and get this now)