During the holiday season many employees like to take time out of their busy schedule, get together, and celebrate. An overwhelming majority of organizations allow parties, potlucks, and after hour get togethers to not only celebrate the season but also increase employee morale and acknowledge another year has gone by. However, holiday parties, while starting out harmless, can cause managers a headache the day after.
Here are some tips to keep your organization’s holiday get together a successful one:

1. Remind everyone that this is a company sponsored event and ensure that everyone understands the expectations for the event. During a company sponsored event, employees are held to the same standards and expectations as if they were at work. This includes avoiding any questionable behavior that could lead to employee relation issues such as sexual harassment claims.

2. Ensure there is proper supervision during the company sponsored event. During a holiday party it is advisable to have adequate supervision to ensure company policies are not being violated. Managers, as agents of the organization, can and should keep behaviors in check.

3. If questionable behavior begins to take place, intervene to keep poor behavior from escalating. Make sure you remind people that they are still at work and need to act appropriately.

4. Keep the celebration time to a reasonable period. A company party does not need to last for an extraordinarily long period of time. A potluck that lasts all day can reduce productivity and risks people getting sick of a food borne illness.

While these may seem like simple suggestions, these are some common themes to parties that go awry each and every year. Every employer wants their employees to have fun; however, boundaries can assist an organization in keeping any party on track.

Jennifer Streeter is an author, professional speaker and executive coach focusing on developing internal leaders. Her organization is founded on the principles of the Leadership Pyramid, and it is engrained in every aspect of its operation.