Michelle Gibbings spoke with Daily Mail journalist Lisa Edser to highlight key work Christmas party mistakes that could risk your career. She discusses how workplace behaviour risks at these events can impact your career reputation management. Read the full article here.
A workplace expert has urged Aussies to be on their best behaviour at Christmas parties, warning their wild antics could damage their reputation or lead to them being fired.
Author Dr Michelle Gibbings told Daily Mail Australia she wants Aussies to remember the office Christmas party is still regarded as being at work, despite where and when it is held.
‘It is work regardless of what the calendar invitation says,’ she said.
‘Even if it’s outside of work hours, even if it’s in a venue that’s not your workplace – it is still work.’
Dr Gibbings said an employer’s code of conduct and workplace laws ‘still apply’ at Christmas parties – meaning any staff member who breaks them can be reprimanded or fired.
One of the ways an employee can find themselves in hot water is not how much alcohol they’ve consumed, but how they act when they’re drunk.
‘Too much alcohol and you can lose control of your sensible faculties,’ Dr Gibbings said.
‘You can then inadvertently put other people in a position where they are uncomfortable. You just don’t want to go there.’
Dr Gibbings added indulging in drugs at a Christmas party can have serious consequences as well.
‘Anything that is illegal, is illegal at your workplace event,’ she said.
‘It’s really important as an employee to ignore any peer pressure and avoid being sucked into things that are going to make you or someone else feel uncomfortable.
‘The last thing you want is the week before Christmas to get hauled into HR and have to justify what occurred and who you were with.
‘Not a fun way to end the year.’
As the festive season approaches, Aussies might be tempted to approach their office crush – but Dr Gibbings warned employees and bosses to be cautious.
‘There’s certainly been examples of workers who have been let go for inappropriate behaviour and it’s usually inappropriate sexual advances,’ she said.
The author said that while it is important to remember that while every context is different, it’s essential to be aware of things such as a power imbalance.
‘Office romances are always problematic, unless you know exactly where the other person is standing,’ Dr Gibbings said.
‘If you’re more senior than the person, you’re in a really dangerous position because there’s potential that your approach can be interpreted in a certain way.
‘And if it’s not wanted and that person feels they don’t have any ability to say no, that can be construed as sexual harassment.’
Dr Gibbings warned Aussies to be ‘cautious’ on how they execute their approach because something they may think is ‘harmless may turn out to be harmful’.
‘Being too handsy can absolutely be sexual harassment,’ she said.
‘You just don’t want to do anything that’s going to make anyone feel uncomfortable or awkward – and then potentially impact your career.’
Aussies also need to be mindful of issues like bullying at end-of-year celebrations.
‘Bullying, harassment, exclusion,’ Dr Gibbings said.
‘If you’re in a little clique hanging out together and are deliberately being mean and excluding other people, that’s bullying.’
But the work expert said every situation is different and context needs to be taken into account.
‘Depending on how it is done, exclusion is a form of bullying,’ Dr Gibbings said.
‘You want to be inclusive, not exclusive.
‘Organisations have pyscho-social safety legislation and if they’re not creating a psychologically safe environment for people to turn up to at their Christmas party, (the company’s) got a problem.’
Dr Gibbings said pranking someone or humiliating them in front of everyone could go against the safe environment.
The author said it’s the time of year that workers need to safeguard their reputation, and avoid doing things like gossiping.
‘You might do something at the Christmas party that won’t get you fired, but will make people look at you a different way,’ Dr Gibbings said.
‘That offhand remark you made that might have been a bit of fun, a bit of banter, that could come back to haunt you.
‘You don’t want to do anything that makes anyone feel uncared for. Colleagues will say: “Oh, I didn’t quite think that’s who that person was”.
‘Losing your reputation can damage how people see you for that next step or that promotion.’
The author’s best advice for Aussies going to their workplace Christmas party is to strike a balance between having fun and remaining professional.
‘Be a nice human, be inclusive, put your best foot forward, manage your reputation and then your job’s OK,’ Dr Gibbings said.