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ARTICLE · 05 DECEMBER 2023

Planning A Holiday Party? Read This First

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Every few years I write a brief article about planning workplace gatherings and each time I do so, I think to myself, "Surely this is all old news and no one really needs this information anymore?"...

CanadaEmployment and HR
Laurie Jessome
Laurie Jessome
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Every few years I write a brief article about planning workplace gatherings and each time I do so, I think to myself, "Surely this is all old news and no one really needs this information anymore?" And then I get that morning-after call or an email from a client who had an issue at their office party reminding me that while certain workplace trends come and go, the potential for an office party "incident" is timeless. So, what can human resources professionals do to minimize risk?

  1. Monitor and Limit (or Eliminate!) Alcohol Consumption. We recommend that companies avoid offering an open bar and instead provide drink tickets for a limited number of alcoholic drinks. At a minimum, all servers should have the necessary certifications to serve alcohol (Smart Serve in Ontario, Serving It Right in BC and ProServe in Alberta). You may also want to consider an alcohol-free daytime activity or gathering that includes employees' spouses or children rather than hosting

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