Five Work Function Don'ts
It would be a shame if you were at a company party and you acted inappropriately in front of your boss or a client, here are five ways to make sure you conduct yourself properly.
While it is important to make the most out of a work party, it is also crucial to point out some of the worst mistakes that some people make during these functions. While you are expected to have fun at these parties, remember that you are still basically at work, so all of those same work rules apply.
Five Work Function Don'ts
You don't want to embarrass yourself in front of everyone that you have to see for eight hours a day, five days a week. So make sure that you avoid all these acts of bad behavior during your work functions, and you should have more success with them.While these events are designed to be fun and often fall around the holiday seasons, they can often instill fear or bad behavior in some individuals. Your job after reading this article is to avoid any of this bad behavior at all costs.
Career Help Center
Avoiding Bad Behavior at Work Functions
While some of the examples listed below may be extreme cases, the help below explains the general rules of etiquette for office and work functions. Avoid lousy behavior like this and try your best to follow all the rules. You may open yourself up to opportunities and reap benefits from these gatherings.- Drinking or Eating Too Much
Remember that even though this is a party it doesn't give you the freedom to frequent the open bar or gorge yourself on the catered food. Sometimes these events are held at a restaurant in which case you should eat the meal that you ordered and not ask anyone else for their leftovers or any piece of their meal.
If the party has an open bar stick to simple drinks such as beers or wines. Mixed drinks are too strong for this kind of party. If you want to have those types of alcoholic beverages go out with your friends to a bar, don't let work be a place to become intoxicated. - Inappropriate Behavior
Just because you are at a “party” doesn't mean that you can go around to your coworkers and flirt or make rude/inappropriate comments. No matter where the party takes place, you still have to act under all the same rules of professionalism as if you were in your workplace.
Participating in these types of behavior can get you saddled with a harassment suit and cause you much more aggravation than you were probably anticipating. This situation is another reason why you should keep your drinking to a minimum. - Breaking the Dress Code
As stated before, you must treat this party much like you would a regular workday. If the party has a specific dress code, you should comply with it. This suggestion is not to say that you should show up to the party in your work clothes. You may wear something a little different, but be sure that it is professional.
Wearing that low cut shirt or short dress that you have been dying to wear out somewhere isn't a good idea for this occasion. Stay with something more business professional unless otherwise stated. - Guests
Be careful when you decide to bring a guest. Look at your invitation or party announcement and take note of where it states the rule about bringing a plus one. You don't want to bring someone if no one else is, that will make you look rude.
Also, keep in mind whom you are thinking about bringing to your work function. Will this person embarrass you? Do you think they are professional enough to attend? It may seem harsh, but this person is going to be a reflection on you to be seen by your coworkers so if you have any doubts, leave them at home! - Thinking This is Only a Party
When you attend these events, it is important to remember why you are attending. These are more than a party or office function. If you play your cards right, you can truly make the most out of it and possibly advance your career as well. Just remember to be as professional as you can and work on your networking skills because you never know who may be in attendance.