'tis the party season to be cautious - 14th December 2007

A mixture of trepidation, excitment and indifference will have permeated the air of many of the city's workplaces over the last few week as employees have been gearing up for the annual Christmas Party. Many see it as the ideal opportunity to get a bit drunk, flirt with the boy/girl they have fancied for ages, and let their hair down. That combination, more often than not, is a recipe for disaster.
The Journal’s Christmas “do” is being held tonight. Most staff members are going, some have excused themselves and a few are, as yet, still undecided.It is no wonder that some people are a tad wary about attending Christmas parties. These annual events have a disheartening stigma attached to them. The ghost of Christmas Past-parties could regale you with tales of the party having horrific consequences for careers, reputations, and carpets.Christmas parties can go one of two ways for the individuals in attendance - ‘grand’ or ‘definitely NOT grand’. So, in this season of festive cheer and goodwill to all men (and women) I thought I would research a few pointers to ensure that yours is as ‘grand’ as possible.Most people are going to spend a small fortune this Christmas. No one wants to make such an eejit of themselves at a party that they find themselves seeking new employment just as the credit card bills start to roll in during January.The most common ‘Christmas party regrets’ usually involve drinking too much, getting caught gossiping, and getting involved with a colleague in a ‘less than professional’ manner.Drinking too much is the catalyst for most of the things that go wrong in Derry, so it is no surprise that the demon booze tops the list here too. Getting caught gossiping goes hand in hand with being a bit drunk. After a few Bacardis, a significant number of Derry girls can raise the volume of their voices to a level akin to the eruption of Krakatoa so it’s little surprise that the rest of Derry, never mind the office, will be well aware of they like/don’t like, and why.‘Cheeky snogs’ tend to happen once both parties are well and truly smashed. Therefore, it is extremely advisable to limit your alcohol intake on the night in question.It is a much better idea to arrive late and leave early - thus limiting your number of drinks - than to be the first to arrive and last to leave. If you turn out to be that unfortunate, it is unlikely you will have made many new friends on the night.At the part
y itself, it is usually advisable to avoid the topic of work as conversation. It is a party after all so make the to relax and have a laugh. However, don’t venture carelessly into unchartered discussion waters with people you don’t know very well. Opinions on politics, sex, religion, and race are likely to vary greatly and are best left well alone.Things to avoidTouchy subjects should be avoided. Outside of work, people still have strong feelings and opinions, and even though you might be watching your alcohol intake, others may not be. Badly approached topics on these subjects may result in heated debates and personality clashes which can lead to awful scenes...Remember, meeting up with colleagues is not the same as heading out with mates you have known for years. Mates usually know when you are just “havin’ a laugh” or “winding them up” because they have known you for ages.
It’s a different ball game at work.If things do not go completely to plan on the night, the first, and hardest, part of bouncing back is to apologise to the unfortunate soul you annoyed. That could be the boss you had a go at, the workmate you flirted with, or the hapless party-goer whose coat you soiled.It is best to get it out of the way as soon as possible because dragging things out make it worse for everyone involved.Accept that you were out of line and don’t try to laugh it off as: “Ahh, well, sure it was a party!! Lighten up and take your oil!” That’s unlikely to go down well...However, don't dwell on the incident for too long. Life goes on. You don't have to keep apologising to everyone you see. It's over, and tomorrow is a new day.Similarly, if a colleague makes a fool of themselves - be nice. Avoid the temptation to “take the hand out of them” too much. Be discreet and you'll be appreciated for it.Of course, if you want to skip the party altogether, and are employed at the ‘Journal’, you could claim that every Christmas party, miraculously, clashes with your child’s birthday...It’s worked before!