Notes

Avoid Litigation: Making Sure Your Workplace Party Is Safe
According to current stats, a third of companies aren't planning on hosting the standard office Christmas Party this year, in the middle of concerns about legal action due to inebriated antics and so forth. While I can securely state there are many more office safety dangers during a party than the rest of the year (most workplaces simply aren't constructed for that level of treats, alcohol and tacky music), with a little thinking ahead the workplace Christmas party can become the renowned organization it once was-- without the dark cloud of lawsuits hanging overhead.

Here are 5 workplace health and wellness actions you can take to minimise the danger of a litigious post party hangover.

1) Take it out of the workplace

The most convenient method of preventing the legal minefield of work environment health and wellness laws is to take it out of the workplace! As I mentioned previously, the typical workplace with its computers, water cooler and cubicles is just not built for the antics and tomfoolery of the stereotyped office Christmas celebration. Reserving a hotel or a dining establishment may seem like an unnecessary expenditure in the short-term, but the different environment will help people relax and enjoy themselves, and your valuable photocopier will not be harmed by the exhibitionist office clown!

2) Leave off the Mistletoe

This one is less 'health and safety' and more to do with work law, but one of the greatest concerns for legal action is the fear of sexual harassment in the office. And while the Mistletoe is a company favourite, in some cases it really can be asking for problem. By taking it off the list of designs, you will restrict your responsibility if somebody does feel bothered or daunted-- remember that if you are funding the party, then the party will still come under the office guidelines, consisting of those referring to unwanted sexual advances. As a warning about office conduct in general, an employee from Merill Lynch was paid a ₤ 1,000,000 out of court settlement over comments about her sex life and breasts at the workplace Christmas celebration, so watch out for improper conduct.

3) Look out for risks

Here's a strange statistic for you: in 2002, 1,000 individuals were hurt by falling Christmas trees. It just goes to reveal that threats are everywhere, specifically with the alcohol totally free streaming. If you can't budget plan to have the office elsewhere, make sure you're not creating problem where there were no occupational health and safety risks prior to. Normal Christmas office security mistakes can be quickly prevented: Don't enable people to base on office chairs or desks to install designs and don't permit fire threats like Christmas lights to be hung on computer systems or air vents. Likewise, ensure that all the normal emergency info is not obscured by crass designs-- even if it means there's no space for that last life-size reindeer model-- the workplace health and wellness laws need to come first!

4) Watch out for the alcohol

It's unsurprising that numerous managers are frightened at the work environment health and safety inspector's nightmare: combining alcohol with pricey workplace equipment. Thankfully, there are actions you can take towards limiting the potential for damage and helping office safety. It's a popular reality that alcohol is most potent on an empty stomach, so put on some catering. Since they create a thirst which can be counter-intuitive for the alcohol-wary supervisor, Salty treats are less suggested. A good way of having the ability to manage the alcohol a little bit more is by making your own punch-- the alcohol content is then up to you, and the fruit juice in them will trigger the alcohol to be taken in into the blood stream that bit slower.

5) Put on transport

Booking some taxis or providing rooms for party goers to sleep may sound like an unneeded expense at the end of the night, but the expense is far less than the risk they would trigger to themselves by drink driving, or the damage to the business if they sue due to an accident as they stagger back to their homes. And the extra 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 final word of advice: According to a recent study, Bing Crosby's White Christmas and The Pogues' Fairytale of New York are our preferred Christmas songs, while Cliff Richard's Mistletoe and Wine, and Wham's Last Christmas are best avoided if you wish to keep the groaning to a minimum! Some would call a Christmas over extravagance in Cliff a much more concerning breach of health and wellness laws, than a little alcoholic abuse!


According to current data, a 3rd of business aren't preparing on hosting the standard office Christmas Party this year, amidst concerns about legal action due to inebriated antics and so forth. While I can safely say there are lots of more office safety threats during a party than the rest of the year (most offices just aren't built for that level of snacks, alcohol and tacky music), with a little thinking ahead the workplace Christmas party can end up being the celebrated institution it when was-- without the dark cloud of litigation hanging overhead. As I mentioned earlier, the common office with its computers, water cooler and cubicles is simply not developed for the shenanigans and tomfoolery of the stereotypical workplace Christmas party. As an alerting about office conduct in general, an employee from Merill Lynch was paid a ₤ 1,000,000 out of court settlement over comments about her sex life and breasts at the office Christmas celebration, so keep an eye out for unsuitable conduct.

Typical Christmas workplace security mistakes can be quickly prevented: Don't allow individuals to stand on workplace chairs or desks to put up decors and do not permit fire threats like Christmas lights to be hung on computers or air vents.

Workplace safety accident prevention organizational growth

Here's my website: https://www.occupational-safety.com.au/collections/swms