Managing behaviour at work events
We round up our resources that will help employers avoid problems at a work-related event, including at the Christmas or end-of-year work party. Our resources include research on employers' arrangements for celebrations over the Christmas and New Year period, to help you benchmark your organisation.
FAQs
- As Christmas is a Christian festival, can an employer still hold a Christmas party if some of its employees belong to other religions?
- What issues should employers take into account regarding the timing of a work-related social event such as a Christmas party?
- What can employers do to avoid problems arising from work-related social events?
- Can employers be held liable for harassment that takes place during a work-related social event?
- Should employers have written rules on work-related social events?
- What issues should employers take into account when organising the catering for work-related social events?
- What issues should employers take into account if inviting employees' partners to a work-related social event?
- Where an employer has provided employees with a Christmas hamper in previous years is it under any obligation to continue this practice?
- Is the company Christmas party a taxable benefit?
- Can an employer dock the pay of an employee who has arrived at work late the morning after the company Christmas party?
- How should employers treat the problem of employees not coming in to work on the day following a work-related social event?
How to
Policies and documents
Law reports
- Vicarious liability: Employer liable for director's assault after work Christmas party
- Unfair dismissal: zero compensation for zookeeper over Christmas party fight
- Dismissal for involvement in Christmas party "wrestling match" was fair
- Fair dismissal of employee who punched colleague after Christmas party
Tasks
- Benchmark your organisation's Christmas staff celebrations against those of other employers
- Take steps to ensure acceptable conduct at work-related social events
