Crazy Christmas Parties?
Happy New Year and all that!
Most EW clients had a few days off over Christmas and so the office was reasonably quiet. Phew! However, the fun started quickly when most clients returned to work on 2 January.
You might be surprised (amused?) at some of the antics that go on at work Christmas parties up and down the UK! Of course, kill joys that we are here at EW, we did our best to help avoid problems (some said that we were trying to spoil the fun) by suggesting that clients put in place a Christmas Party Policy and send a memo to staff reminding them of the rules before the party! Anyway, despite our best efforts, we didn’t spoil all the fun! Here are some examples of incidents reported to us last week:
- One young girl (new to the Company) mentioned to another that she rather fancied the guy impersonating John Travolta on the dance floor. It was her bad luck that she told his wife. Tempers flared and each emptied several glasses of (good) wine over the other. The two ended up on the dance floor (rolling on it) pulling each other’s hair. The whole thing was videoed by a client guest on his mobile phone. Beat that?!
- Rather tame by comparison, a young sales person took it upon herself to throw her chocolate pudding all over her MD. He (and his DJ) were covered! Sounds like fun to me?
- An assistant manager left in charge of a restaurant on New Year’s Eve had a great party. Infact he got so drunk that he started a brawl in his own restaurant. The police were called - but were unable to take a statement from the Assistant Manager as he was too drunk to talk! Hmm!
- One company took our advice to lay on transport after the party to reduce the risk of drink driving. Unfortunately, on the way back one worker pounced upon a director and about 5 or 6 employees started fighting. The coach driver, understandably, refused to drive the party home, pulled over and the police were called to restore order!
Needless to say the EW legal team has already dealt with all of these problems, the dust has now settled, the bruises are healing and quite a few employees (and one or two directors) are probably a tadge embarrassed.
Whoever said that it’s no fun being an employment lawyer? Hey Ho, only 11.5 month until next Christmas. I can’t wait!
January 15th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
We used your party policy and sent your memo to all staff. The party was pleasant but no scandal. Next year can I go to one of the ones mentioed - sounds like much more fun! Tony
January 15th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Have you posted the video of the fight on utube? Perhaps I should look at it purely from an employment law research point of view of course!?