The first bit of advice is whether you're required to go to the office holliday party. Sure to most employees, the office party is nothing more than an extension of work and therefore an extension of the politics, the rules and everything else that goes along with work. To some extent, sadly enough this is true. We can't always hope that the workers that work for us, will behave like adults. Party's are associated with fun, drinking and to some degree letting loose. So when it comes to the choice of attending or not attending, just know this...just go..unless there is some unforseen God awful thing that has come up and you can't attend, there is no way around management not looking into the fact that you're not there. They have put the time, effort and money to try and show their appreciation for you so by not showing up you're giving them a big flag as to what you feel about the company.
The second bit of advice is for God's sake don't go to the party on an empty stomach. This is just a big no no and as an adult when it comes to drinking. A full stomach sops up sooo much. Eat things like breads or pasta, or even a few glasses of milk, if your lactose tolerant. Poor Travel Ape isn't thats why I bring that fact up.
The third is dress attire. Why I even have to mention this is beyond me, but being around the world of business long enough and having attended my share of Office Holiday Party's I've seen some big missteps in this area. I'm not saying go out and rent a tux or go pay $5000 for a gown that one would wear to the Presidential Innagural Ball, but just be smart about it. No jeans..Maybe some offices are laid back and sure enough ours are here at TravelApe.com but put on a pair of kahki's if your a man and no t-shirts. The same goes for the ladies. A pair of nice slacks and a conservative button down shirt or sweater works great.
The fourth is try your best to have fun and not do business. This is definitely not the time to pitch to your supervisor, upper management, the CEO or Chairman your next great idea. The Holiday Office Party really is meant for just that..a time to break away from the drudgery of the daily grind in the office or work place and try and have time to mix with co-workers on a different level. By the grace of God if you happen to run into a whale of a client while stopping at the convenience store on the way to the party that's 100% sure thing, contract in hand and is worth big money to the firm, that might be the exception to this rule.
The fifth is a combination of a few helpful hints...Don't get drunk, don't hook up and don't dance like you're at a Hedonism Resort. The first bit of advice should be paramount, because it is no doubt the catalyst that usually leads to the other two fopaux's I mentioned. Remember you work with these people and probably outside your immediate family are the people you have to deal with more often day to day than anyone. I've heard horror stories where employees that have had steller careers for years at a firm, all to just smudge their reputations because of one night of one or two stupid acts.
The long and short is, I'm sure to most that have read the above, that common sense would seem to be enough. Sadly enough, and history has shown us, that it isn't enough. So for those of you that already know these rules of the Holiday Office Party kudos to you. Maybe you'd like to pass this post along to friends, collegues or family that you feel might find the suggestions helpful.
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