Get to know colleagues better and come together in Christmas spirit - ideally, Christmas parties in the job are a good opportunity to strengthen the team. But every year there are also employees whose behavior turns out to be such a celebration as a career killer.
Depending on what a faux pas an employee makes, this can even mean a warning or notice. Read here what rules workers should be aware of, so that they do not have to be ashamed the day after the celebration and how to deal with a disgrace skillfully.
What are the consequences if employees drink too much alcohol at the Christmas party?
Everyone knows this one colleague who looks too deeply into the glass at the company party. But excessive alcohol consumption alone does not jeopardize the job. So it may remain with the bad impression with the boss and with the colleagues: "To get drunk and even to hand over is embarrassing, but there is no law that there could be consequences if the employer makes the alcohol available," says Lawyer Henrik Thiel. According to Birte Steinkamp, who works as a Knigge trainer, is the art, "no more and no less noticeable than usual". And who knows that after three glasses of wine, the self-control say goodbye, get better after glass number two on water.
What kind of behavior can cause a termination?
Massive misconduct can have serious consequences - in the worst case even a warning or a termination. In sexual harassment, for example, the aftermath of the celebration, according to lawyer Thiel then even lead to job loss. It is the same when alcohol dissolves the tongue and an employee, for example, insults his boss. Then the consequences should not be long in coming.
Is flirting allowed at the Christmas party?
Even if the boss can not ban it, flirting is according to Knigge expert Steinkamp as a taboo. "Above all, be aware that there is a 'day after'," she says. Employees should therefore prefer to keep the basis to be able to look at each other's eyes again in the morning, without going red. Serious compliments may have been close and motivating, but should not slip into ambiguity.
My boss offers me tipsy that you. Shall I better sweeten it the next day?
A relaxed atmosphere and one or two glasses of wine can make sweets obsolete. If the boss suddenly shots a coworker during the conversation, he should reply, according to Steinkamp. "You will not find out until the next working day if it stays that way, because a duet at the Christmas party is not binding." According to this, the employee should wait and see better how the boss compares the employee to his daily work routine: "If he remands you, it will remain the same for both sides."
Which topics do I not better address at the Christmas party?
It is not a good idea to approach the boss for a salary increase or promotion at a Christmas get-together. "You will not receive a binding response on such an evening anyway and bring yourself and your interlocutor unnecessarily in an embarrassing situation," says Steinkamp. Instead, offer a positive statement about the event or a thank you for the invitation as a conversation with the boss.
How should employees deal with this if they have nevertheless made a faux pas?
"If you have 'only' embarrassed yourself: eyes to and through," says Knigge expert Steinkamp. "Take it with humor and treat your colleagues the fun." According to Steinkamp, it is more serious when a colleague completely loses control and exposes or even ridicules others. Then, the next day the conversation should be looked at in private to clarify the matter and apologize.
May a terminated employee still celebrate?
If an employee was terminated shortly before the celebration or has quit, he may still come to the Christmas party - if this is still within his notice period. "Even an employee exempted from work has a right to participate in the celebration due to the employment law principle of equal treatment", says lawyer Thiel. An exclusion is only possible for a particular reason - for example, if the exemption was due to a behavioral termination. "If it is no longer reasonable to work with someone, then it is probably not reasonable to celebrate with this person together," says Thiel.
Can my boss force me to attend the Christmas party?
Whether the boss can make the Christmas party a compulsory event depends on when the event takes place. "In my spare time, I can not be forced to attend a Christmas party," says Thiel. "Christmas celebrations are not part of the contractual obligations." If the employee does not want to party while working, he has to work instead. But even if an invitation to the celebration was not obligatory, it was a gesture of appreciation on the part of the executive board, Steinkamp said. Not assuming it "would not only be rude, but could even be perceived as a deliberate anti-attitude".
Are supervisors and employees allowed to publish photos of the party on social media, for example?
The party is wet and cheerful, but the snapshots posed by the cheery employees end up on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. However, this is not allowed: "If the boss wants to publish photos, then he must ask for the consent of the employees - for evidence, ideally in writing," says Thiel. Strictly speaking, the same applies to the photos taken by colleagues.
Until when am I insured at a Christmas party?
Most of the colleagues have already said goodbye, only a few people are still sitting in the location - should the party have been officially ended, insurance cover will end soon. This then applies only for the way home and not "if employees stay longer on site," said Thiel. Private detours, for example, in a pub are excluded. If the employee has a private accident insurance, take this in the case.
However, the end of a celebration can not always be clear: "In a restaurant, of course, it is not so clearly delineated, if a part of the workforce continues to celebrate, although the CEO has adopted," said Thiel.
Do I have to come to work on time the day after the party?
Bad awakening in the morning after: The hangover is big, the ability to get up and to move back to the workplace, is limited. But the employee should rather go in this case on the way: "Basically, the employee has the duty to appear on time the next day to work." It is not possible to release oneself for one day, so the employee risks a warning.
Ten tips for the Christmas party of Knigge expert Birte Steinkamp:
- Table manners show: "No-gos, for example, are jostling at the buffet, to full plates, burping and smacking, use of toothpicks, several alcoholic table drinks, napkin in the collar and anything that could disturb your table neighbors also."
- Topics of conversation: "Do not talk about promotion, salary increase or other business issues."
- Mood: "Do not be a fun brake - adapt to society."
- Contact to colleagues: "Flirting is taboo - too private, too intimate, too delicate."
- Gossip: "Do not even go on revelations."
- Presence: "Staying away or leaving the party after half an hour is pure rudeness."
- Alcohol consumption: "Drink alcohol only in moderation and only as much as you can 'without harm' tolerate."
- Networking: "Take the opportunity to socialize and deepen your contacts."
- Clothing: "Stick to the usual dress code of your business and attract attention neither by free movement nor overdressed."
- Occurrence: "Do not play the entertainer A well-maintained conversation with charm and humor will keep your good image."
