4 things you should not do at your office Christmas party

Christmas is next week and that means it’s about time for your company to host its annual holiday get-together. Whether it’s at a restaurant, an employee’s home, or just at the office, this event can be quite entertaining and festive for some and a dreadful drag for many others. Often times office holiday parties get out of hand when employees forget to follow simple etiquette rules. To ensure you don’t put your job in jeopardy or ruin your professional reputation, consider the following four things you should avoid doing at your work Christmas party.

Not showing up
Chances are your company will not force you to attend the party, but that doesn’t mean you should take that as an easy out. Although you may really be dreading it, it’s important you make an appearance. If you choose to skip it, your absence will be detected and made note of by your coworkers and your boss. This may lead them to question your commitment to the company.

Dressing inappropriately
Just because your getting together for a social event, doesn’t mean you can dress like you’re at a Mardi Gras with your best friends. Remember it may be a more relaxed environment, but it is still a work event, therefore you must maintain your professionalism and composure. Sure, you don’t have to necessarily wear a pant-suit, but remember your attire and appearance are a direct reflection of you.

Getting drunk
Additionally, just as you don’t want to dress inappropriately, you also don’t want to behave in a way that’s tasteless or classless. This means no getting drunk under any circumstance. As much as being around your work team may cause you to want to reach for that extra glass of wine, keep yourself together and remember your limits. There’s nothing worse than that colleague who’s caught slurring their speech or dancing on the bar. You can rest assured that if you make this mistake it will be talked about and brought up again in the workplace.

Not thanking the host
Remember that these events are often not cheap and it takes not only money but also time and energy to pull them off. So, before you head home after the party is over, give your host a genuine thank you to show them your gratitude for being included. Also, it’s never a bad idea to follow up after the party with an email thanking the host again and wishing them a happy holiday.