When the year is wrapping up and Christmas is quickly approaching, it is quite appropriate for businesses to want to celebrate the past year with their employees. Christmas parties are a great way for employers to show their appreciation towards their team and reward their efforts.
It is crucial however, that such parties and celebrations are conducted appropriately and suitably as they can be viewed as an extension of the workplace from a WHS and employment law perspective.
There are a few important points to consider when organising and planning a Christmas party:
- Plan early
It may often seem like there is plenty of time to organise a Christmas party, but this busy period can creep up very fast, and venues can be booked out well in advance. As an employer, you also want to ensure you give your employees enough notice of the Christmas party so they can make sure they are available. Therefore, don’t wait until the last minute! Start organising the details now!
- Review workplace policies
In planning for your workplace Christmas party, ensure you look at your internal policies and procedures to make sure they are up to date and in line with best practice as the policies still apply within the context of a workplace party.
Specifically, review your Code of Conduct and Respectful Workplace Behaviours policies (Drug and Alcohol, Sexual Harassment and Bullying and Harassment). Another important consideration is any policies you may have around social media use.
Ensure that for the party, there are clear and established guidelines for employee behaviour and safety.
- Select appropriate venue
Choosing where to have your party is important to consider. You may have the space at your workplace to transform it as a venue to host the celebrations, but you should also consider that employees may find it more enjoyable to be outside of where they work everyday and at an alternative venue.
In selecting a venue, consider whether the space is appropriate to host the number of people attending the party; that it provides ample space for mingling and quiet conversations and provides adequate sitting and standing space.
Additionally, it important to select a venue with travel considerations in mind. You want to select a venue that is within reasonable driving distance of where everyone works so it is convenient.
Depending on the size of your business, you may also want to consider providing options for transport to and from the venue to make it more convenient for employees. For example, you may organise a minibus to transport all your employees to the workplace party venue from a meeting point, such as the office location.
If you aren’t organising travel to and from the venue for employees, you should at least ensure the venue you choose has suitable transport options nearby, such as taxis or buses.
- Manage alcohol consumption responsibly
Alcohol is often apart of Christmas and end-of-year parties, but it is crucial that there are expectations and regulations in place that prevent it from becoming a messy and regrettable situation.
Firstly, there should be non-alcoholic options to be considerate of those who may not wish to partake in drinking, and as a way to encourage those who are drinking, to do so in moderation.
If alcohol is being served, ensure it adheres to relevant legislation and complies with Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) guidelines. It should also be accompanied by a sufficient amount of food to reduce risks associated with excessive drinking.
Employers may also consider placing a limit on the number of alcoholic drinks consumed per person as a way to manage the situation.
If you would like more information on how to best plan or manage your end-of-year celebration, please contact us via the link below.