According to current stats, a 3rd of business aren’t planning on hosting the standard workplace Christmas Party this year, in the middle of issues about legal action due to inebriated antics etc. While I can safely state there are many more workplace security threats throughout a party than the rest of the year (most offices simply aren’t constructed for that level of snacks, alcohol and cheesy music), with a little thinking ahead the workplace Christmas celebration can become the well known institution it once was– without the dark cloud of litigation hanging overhead. It’s essential to keep the workplace health and wellness precautions in the background nevertheless– nobody likes the concept of continuous bureaucracy when they’re attempting to unwind. Currently over half of managers recently surveyed felt the celebratory environment felt extremely ‘required’.
Here are 5 workplace health and wellness steps you can take to reduce the danger of a litigious post celebration hangover.
1) Take it out of the workplace
The simplest way of preventing the legal minefield of office health and wellness laws is to take it out of the workplace! As I discussed earlier, the typical workplace with its computer systems, water cooler and cubicles is just not built for the shenanigans and tomfoolery of the stereotypical office Christmas celebration. Booking a hotel or a restaurant may look like an unneeded expense in the short-term, but the various environment will assist people relax and enjoy themselves, and your valuable photocopier will not be damaged by the exhibitionist workplace clown!
2) Leave off the Mistletoe
By taking it off the list of decorations, you will restrict your responsibility if someone does feel bugged or frightened– keep in mind that if you are moneying the party, then the party will still come under the office guidelines, including those pertaining to sexual harassment. As an alerting about workplace conduct in general, a worker from Merill Lynch was paid a ₤ 1,000,000 out of court settlement over remarks about her sex life and breasts at the office Christmas party, so keep an eye out for unsuitable conduct.
3) Look out for dangers
If you can’t budget to have the office in other places, make sure you’re not developing trouble where there were no occupational health and safety dangers before. Common Christmas office security pitfalls can be easily avoided: Don’t permit people to stand on office chairs or desks to put up decors and do not permit fire hazards like Christmas lights to be hung on computers or air vents.
4) Watch out for the alcohol
It’s unsurprising that lots of managers are terrified at the workplace health and safety inspector’s nightmare: combining alcohol with costly office equipment. There are actions you can take towards restricting the potential for damage and aiding office security.
5) Put on transportation
Booking some taxis or supplying rooms for celebration goers to sleep may sound like an unnecessary cost at the end of the night, but the cost is far less than the threat they would trigger to themselves by drink driving, or the damage to the company if they take legal action against due to an accident as they stagger back to their homes. And the additional expense included is all in the spirit of Christmas, and will guarantee that for simply one day, you aren’t compared to Ebenezer Scrooge!
One last word of recommendations: According to a recent study, Bing Crosby’s White Christmas and The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York are our favourite Christmas tunes, while Cliff Richard’s Mistletoe and Wine, and Wham’s Last Christmas are best prevented if you wish to keep the moaning to a minimum! Some would call a Christmas over indulgence in Cliff an even more worrying breach of health and wellness laws, than a little alcoholic abuse!
According to current statistics, a 3rd of business aren’t planning on hosting the conventional workplace Christmas Party this year, amidst issues about legal action due to drunken antics and so forth. While I can securely say there are numerous more office safety dangers during a party than the rest of the year (most workplaces just aren’t developed for that level of treats, alcohol and cheesy music), with a little thinking ahead the office Christmas party can end up being the popular organization it as soon as was– without the dark cloud of litigation hanging overhead. As I mentioned earlier, the normal workplace with its computer systems, water cooler and cubicles is simply not constructed for the antics and tomfoolery of the stereotypical workplace Christmas party. As a warning about office conduct in general, a worker from Merill Lynch was paid a ₤ 1,000,000 out of court settlement over remarks about her sex life and breasts at the workplace Christmas party, so keep an eye out for improper conduct.
Common Christmas workplace safety mistakes can be easily prevented: Don’t allow people to stand on office chairs or desks to put up decorations and don’t enable fire dangers like Christmas lights to be hung on computer systems or air vents.
Safe Work Australia Codes of Practice
WHS Act 2011
