There’s more an employer can do to attempt to limit liability not mentioned in the article: they can have an all cash bar; they can limit consumption to only the allotted drink tickets, they can acquire rooms and taxis at no- or reduced-cost for employees on site; they can only serve beverages with lower alcohol content.
My favorite though is just not serving alcohol at company functions at all. The level of liability goes WAY down that way. Companies are exposed to much more than liability for a drunk-driving crash. Sexual harrassment and other policy breaches are quite common at company parties that facilitate such behavior. My recommendation – have the party at the office and don’t serve alcohol. If you go off-site don’t go to a place that has rooms that could facilitate sexual liasons. And don’t serve alcohol.
And as employees, if the company is serving alcohol, don’t drink. Don’t think just because it’s a party doesn’t mean there isn’t somebody from HR or the executive staff stone-cold sober watching you for inappropriate behavior. Stay sober and get ahead in your career.
Once again, the concept of personal responsibility has been thrown out the window. Let me get this straight. I drive drunk and kill or maim someone under two different scenarios. One scenario, I’m drinking at a friends house, the other scenario, I’m drinking at a company-sponsored CHRISTMAS party. I am somehow the companies liability in one scenario and not the other?
Where does it end? What if I’m mad and not driving very well, yet completely sober, and I maim or kill someone. Again, two scenarios, under one scenario I had a bad day at work because some employees were making me mad, versus the second scenario where I was just arguing with some people at a friends house. Is this the company’s fault in the first scenario?
Alcohol does not cause traffic accidents, drivers do. Companies don’t force people to drink, people choose to.
Seriously people, think about this. Personal responsibility and personal freedom go hand-in-hand. You disregard one, you take away the other.
I’ve yet to attend a corporate holiday party(formerly Christmas party until the country lost it’s backbone)that didn’t have at least one “incident” of stupid, irresponsible behavior. Perhaps it’s time to re-think the “company party” paradigm. One company I had the pleasure of working for handled the holidays as follows:
1. shut the office down one afternoon and had a catered lunch so people could mingle and chat. No booze. When lunch was done people were free to leave for the day.
2. a very nice holiday gift basket was sent to each employee’s home.
Wow, you people must be real fun to hang out with! You make holiday parties sound like funerals!!! Go ahead, drink your Shirley Temples. I’m hangin’ out with Marc and tipping back a few scotches!
Actually Hank, most people had a great time. Not everyone needs booze to be able to enjoy a gathering. I like to drink as much as anyone, but for that one time a year when you’re in a business environment it isn’t necessary. Those who want to party hearty usually continued the party outside the office at a non-company sponsored event.
p.s. by the way, the company I described in my first post was located in midtown Manhattan.
Ohioan,
I have no problem with those who choose not to drink at these parties. We are all adults and should be treated as such, which includes giving ME the option to partake of alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, it is the few bad apples which spoil it for the rest of us responsible drinkers. But I have to say, in the 40+ years of attending holiday parties, I cannot remember one incident which ended in tragedy.
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There’s more an employer can do to attempt to limit liability not mentioned in the article: they can have an all cash bar; they can limit consumption to only the allotted drink tickets, they can acquire rooms and taxis at no- or reduced-cost for employees on site; they can only serve beverages with lower alcohol content.
My favorite though is just not serving alcohol at company functions at all. The level of liability goes WAY down that way. Companies are exposed to much more than liability for a drunk-driving crash. Sexual harrassment and other policy breaches are quite common at company parties that facilitate such behavior. My recommendation – have the party at the office and don’t serve alcohol. If you go off-site don’t go to a place that has rooms that could facilitate sexual liasons. And don’t serve alcohol.
And as employees, if the company is serving alcohol, don’t drink. Don’t think just because it’s a party doesn’t mean there isn’t somebody from HR or the executive staff stone-cold sober watching you for inappropriate behavior. Stay sober and get ahead in your career.
Once again, the concept of personal responsibility has been thrown out the window. Let me get this straight. I drive drunk and kill or maim someone under two different scenarios. One scenario, I’m drinking at a friends house, the other scenario, I’m drinking at a company-sponsored CHRISTMAS party. I am somehow the companies liability in one scenario and not the other?
Where does it end? What if I’m mad and not driving very well, yet completely sober, and I maim or kill someone. Again, two scenarios, under one scenario I had a bad day at work because some employees were making me mad, versus the second scenario where I was just arguing with some people at a friends house. Is this the company’s fault in the first scenario?
Alcohol does not cause traffic accidents, drivers do. Companies don’t force people to drink, people choose to.
Seriously people, think about this. Personal responsibility and personal freedom go hand-in-hand. You disregard one, you take away the other.
Good advice, lastbat.
You never know when other co-workers will be bringing digital cameras to the soiree… LOL
Years ago, I learned to follow my General Managers example…..stop after 3 Scotches, any more will probably get you in trouble.
Lastbat and “no name” are right on the money. Good comments.
3 scotches and I’d be under the table, passed out
I’ve yet to attend a corporate holiday party(formerly Christmas party until the country lost it’s backbone)that didn’t have at least one “incident” of stupid, irresponsible behavior. Perhaps it’s time to re-think the “company party” paradigm. One company I had the pleasure of working for handled the holidays as follows:
1. shut the office down one afternoon and had a catered lunch so people could mingle and chat. No booze. When lunch was done people were free to leave for the day.
2. a very nice holiday gift basket was sent to each employee’s home.
Good morale booster, no liability, no casualites.
Wow, you people must be real fun to hang out with! You make holiday parties sound like funerals!!! Go ahead, drink your Shirley Temples. I’m hangin’ out with Marc and tipping back a few scotches!
Actually Hank, most people had a great time. Not everyone needs booze to be able to enjoy a gathering. I like to drink as much as anyone, but for that one time a year when you’re in a business environment it isn’t necessary. Those who want to party hearty usually continued the party outside the office at a non-company sponsored event.
p.s. by the way, the company I described in my first post was located in midtown Manhattan.
Ohioan,
I have no problem with those who choose not to drink at these parties. We are all adults and should be treated as such, which includes giving ME the option to partake of alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, it is the few bad apples which spoil it for the rest of us responsible drinkers. But I have to say, in the 40+ years of attending holiday parties, I cannot remember one incident which ended in tragedy.