The office party – our six top tips to avoiding a HR hangover

With ‘Mad Friday’ just around the corner, we’re revisiting our popular office party survival guide for HR managers.

So if you’re making last minute preparations for your team knees up, take a look at our six top tips to office party success…

1. Clear standards – no one wants to be a party pooper, but it’s good practice to provide clear guidance on the standard of behaviour expected at your Christmas party. Make sure that your employees understand that the party is still a professional event, and inappropriate behaviour may need to be discussed formally back in the office.
2. Safety – support your party goers in making safe arrangements for travelling home. For example, could you arrange pre-booked taxis from the venue?
3. Alcohol – make sure that a range of refreshments are on offer, including soft drinks. Not everyone drinks alcohol, and even those who do may need a break during the night.
4. Social media – reiterate your professional guidelines around social media. Again, you don’t want to spoil the merriment, but it’s good practice to remind your employees of your professional expectations before the night carries them away. Many of your employees may prefer privacy, and photos posted at your party could also be seen as a reflection of your brand.
5. Entertainment – think inclusively when planning entertainment for the evening. Your team is likely to be made up of a wide range of different people, so aim to offer entertainment that is enjoyable and respectful to all.
6. Attendance – make it clear that attendance is not compulsory. Your team may have religious beliefs or prior plans that mean they cannot commit to attending.

Stephanie Coward

Managing Director, HCM

Stephanie Coward is Managing Director for HCM at IRIS, where she leads the strategy, innovation and growth of the organisation’s HR and payroll portfolio. She is responsible for positioning IRIS as a trusted partner to HR professionals and ensuring its solutions support the evolving needs of modern workforces.

With more than 25 years’ experience in the technology sector, Stephanie brings deep commercial and operational expertise, with a passion for improving the employee experience through technology.

Stephanie is committed to advancing IRIS’ HCM offering and helping organisations build more resilient, empowered workforces.