Safeguarding your business at the end of year party
We all enjoy the end of year celebrations but as an employer it is imperative to safeguard your business and the team by setting and maintaining behaviour standards whilst role modelling responsible leadership and professional management.
The first point to consider is end of year parties are still work-related events and therefore businesses need to be mindful that there is various legislation which needs to be adhered to (i.e. Fair Work, OHS, Anti-discrimination and Criminal codes).
As with the normal workplace, employers have a responsibility to proactively take reasonable steps to ensure employee safety and health and to provide an environment free from harassment and discrimination.
Certain inappropriate behaviour at work functions, much of which can be attributed to the "good cheer", can lead to employers being held vicariously liable. Such behaviour may include unwelcome touching and kissing, derogatory humour in Christmas skits, inappropriate gifts and "party tricks".
Further to this, where a business leader chooses to freely indulge with their employees in a far less controlled way, the ability of the business leader to retain credibility, both short and long term, and the ability to act with authority, when required, is eroded substantially.
Here are some quick tips for mitigating risk around a workplace function:
Establish guidelines of behaviour and communicate them to all attendees well beforehand. If you are not sure about setting standards, seek advice in doing so.
Make it clear this is a workplace event and establish a clear start and end time.
Attend the event and role model the expected behaviour – you are reinforcing the standards previously advised to your people.
Be prepared to act and manage unacceptable behaviours – regrettably, you may need to take action when people deviate from your advised standards.
Be there the whole time and close the event at the time you advised – it allows you and others to attempt to distance yourself from any after-parties that are not directly company sponsored and concludes the ‘workplace’ event.