How to Keep Workplace Parties Festive and Harassment-Free This Holiday Season

With the holiday season in full swing, workplaces often become the site of parties, gift exchanges, and other festive activities.  These activities foster camaraderie among coworkers and allow teams to celebrate their accomplishments.  Unfortunately, though, they can also sometimes lead to inappropriate behavior, including sexual harassment, which may lead to problems for the unweary business owner.

Employers can take proactive steps to ensure everyone feels safe and respected during these events.  Here are five suggestions to creating  a safe and positive environment for holiday celebrations.

Go Over Anti-Harassment Policies

Before holiday events, it is always a good idea to review and communicate your organization’s anti-harassment policies. Employees should understand what counts as sexual harassment and the consequences of such behavior.

-Refresher Training: Provide refresher training on company policies. This training can use examples from social settings to make information more relatable.

–Reporting Procedures: Make sure employees know how to report issues and feel confident that any incident they report will be handled confidentially and investigated thoroughly.

Set Expectations for Holiday Parties

Before hosting a holiday party, clearly lay out the expected code of conduct for all employees.  Employes should understand that harassment policies apply to all work-related events, regardless of whether they are held on or off the premises.

Designate Leadership Oversight

Assign managers or HR staff to watch over holiday events discreetly and to intervene if incidents arise.  Management should always understand that it is their responsibility to model appropriate behavior and handle complaints promptly and effectively.

Promote Inclusivity at Celebrations

Foster an atmosphere of inclusivity that feels comfortable for all employees, regardless of gender, religion or cultural background.

–Use Professional, Inclusive Entertainment: Avoid hiring any entertainers who might use unprofessional or inappropriate language or behavior.

-Host Inclusive Events: Consider hosting festive events that minimize the likelihood of inappropriate behavior, such as: lunches or other daytime celebrations, community service projects.

Limit Alcohol Consumption:

Alcohol can lower inhibitions and lead to impaired decision-making. If including alcohol in a celebratory event, consider giving out drink tickets or using a cash bar instead of offering unlimited drinks.

Address Issues Swiftly

Despite an employer’s best efforts to mitigate risk, sometimes an incident does occur.  In such cases, management and HR should act quickly and in accordance with company policies.  HR should thoroughly investigate any report of an incident and take any appropriate disciplinary action. An employer’s failure to address a harassment claim is not only harmful to all individuals involved, but also inhibits future employee reporting and creates significant additional legal exposure for the company.

Conclusion

Taking proactive steps now can help ensure that everyone feels comfortable and safe during the holiday season.  By taking the measures identified above, employers can help ensure that office holiday festivities remain celebratory and avoid unwanted incidents.

** This blog is authored by Kelsey Feucht, an Associate in the firm of Bellas & Wachowski.  Kelsey concentrates her practice on advising business owners on employment related issues.