5 Things to Avoid Saying at Your Office Holiday Party

Your office holiday party is a great opportunity to let loose (a little!), get to know your co-workers on a more personal level, and network with company leaders. But, it can also provide an opportunity to say and do some pretty dumb stuff. Trust us, as a Houston employment agency, we’ve heard it all. And unfortunately, making a serious blunder at a work party can have significant consequences – it could harm your credibility, upset your boss, and, worst-case scenario, you could be out of a job. So here are some things to avoid saying at your office holiday party:

1. Talking about bonuses.

Avoid any talk about year-end bonuses. First of all, you don’t know if the guy you’re talking to got a bonus and if he didn’t, you’ll look like a jerk. Secondly, you can get into rough waters when you start talking about bonus amounts with a co-worker, particularly of you received significantly more or less than that person. So avoid any talk of monetary compensation.

2. Announcing that you’re going to get wasted.

An open bar is not an invitation to get completely drunk. In a work/social situation, you should limit yourself to one or two drinks, or avoid drinking altogether. Most serious office party blunders are booze fueled and the results can be disastrous to your career. So if you’re at your office party and you’re starting to feel a bit tipsy, then it’s time to excuse yourself. You’ll thank us in the morning.

3. Complaining about the venue, the food, or the party in general.

Even if you’re thinking about all the things you could be getting done instead of attending the office party, don’t vocalize your thoughts. Likewise, if you don’t like the venue or the food or some other aspect of the party, keep your thoughts to yourself. You don’t want to be known as the office whiner and, worse yet, you don’t want your comments getting back to your boss.

4. Gossiping about your boss or co-workers.

It’s true – most people can’t get enough juicy office gossip. But don’t go there, especially at a work function. At parties, you typically have to speak louder to be heard and you never know who could be standing right behind you – listening.

5. Commenting about a person’s appearance.

If you’ve reached the point where you’re discussing a co-worker’s appearance and weighing in on whether you think they’re good-looking or not, it’s time to leave the party. Likewise, if you feel compelled to tell a co-worker you find them attractive, then it’s time to run, not walk, to the nearest exit.

The bottom line is that you should view the office holiday party as an extension of your workday. If you wouldn’t do something at a company staff meeting, then don’t do it at your holiday party!

What about you? What are some of the biggest blunders you’ve seen people make at office holiday parties in the past?