Employers are being warned to make sure office Christmas
parties don’t end in tears or dismissals.
Employment law experts have warned that Christmas
celebrations can make organisations vulnerable to incidents ranging from
drunkenness to sexual harassment.
Pete Etherington of Croner Consulting advised employers to
ensure parties are well organised and that staff are reminded of their
responsibilities.
He said that, according to employment law, staff can be
dismissed for committing gross misconduct outside the workplace if the incident
seriously affects the company’s reputation or business interests.
Poor conduct at the staff party could also damage the
employees subsequent performance and relationships with colleagues.
Ross Wigham
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