As Christmas party season gets under way, safety campaigners have drawn up a checklist of do's and don'ts so it passes peacefully.
The list published by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the TUC recommends banning mistletoe to avoid harassment complaints and making soft drinks available for anyone driving.
A separate report by Norwich Union Healthcare says Christmas party hangovers will cost businesses up to �65million in lost working hours.
What are you doing for this year's Christmas party? Has your boss brought in measures to reduce injuries or problems at the party?
This debate is now closed. Here are some of your comments:
 | SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Chris Soames, England:  The report about what we shouldn't do at Christmas parties is beyond stupid. Does anyone agree?  |
We had our Christmas party early on in December. A fab bash, good food (for a change), free bar - including soft drinks - lots of raffle prizes and a brill disco. Well worth it. The best one yet.
Jackie, Yorkshire
Until relatively recently I always had a superb time at work Xmas parties - but then, I went out with my staff almost every week anyway! Recently though I have started working with a local council - no parties, one meal at lunchtime (no drinking) and nowhere near as much of the team spirit that comes from socialising with the guys you work with!
Anonymous, Brighton, UK
I can see my party will start with awkward conversations, struggling for something enthusiastic to say about my job to management, followed by drinking myself into a state where I no longer care and sneak off to meet up with my mates for more drinking. I hate works dos, they are for people who have no life outside work. Why do engineers feel it necessary to talk about work all night instead of relaxing and having a laugh? Just because I share a room with these people 8 hours a day doesn't mean I have to like them. Bah humbug!
Dave, Cardiff, Wales
Company Christmas parties? I've just enjoyed two of them. The first one was when my department went off on Wednesday to an Irish pub in town for a slap-up roast-beef-and-trimmings meal (this is in Germany, note) and a devious prize pub quiz. We all had a thoroughly good time and still made it in to the office the following day. The second do was the company's annual Christmas bash on Friday, enjoyed by several thousand people at three venues, with food and drink (including a very popular cocktail bar) all paid for, live music, and then a disco going on into the small hours on Saturday. Any sore heads then had the opportunity to recover over the weekend, or repent at leisure what they had said or done... I'm on leave now, so I'll have to wait a while to catch up on any vice or scandal from the party.
Steve Coombs, Bad Nauheim, Germany Four hundred people, one grand hall and all our food paid for, but the best part is hearing all the scandal the morning after, magic!
Brendan, Belfast
What a wake up call. I thought Brits were proper and stuffy. Now I see the exact opposite is true. You lot seem to be bingers who do not know how to behave in a party setting. Shameful, disgraceful and a very poor example for your children, indeed.
JoEllyn, NYC, USA
So far on this website, there has been articles about should we not have decorations, should we not have Nativity plays, we shouldn't drink too much over Christmas and now the worry that your company might get sued for actually enjoying themselves at a Christmas Party. What a joke this Country is becoming.
Bob, Milton Keynes
| US parties were spoiled by drooling liability lawyers years ago |
After reading all the comments about the goings on at the UK parties, I'm dying to see the photos! US parties were spoiled by drooling liability lawyers years ago so companies are terrified of being sued for allowing any fun - I may have to look for work in the UK!
Judy Long, Arizona, USA We have cancelled our Christmas party for fear of being arrested and fined �80.00
Dtleg, Sussex
At least you all get a party I don't even get a Christmas card from the boss never mind a bonus.
Alex, Aylesbury, UK
I had been looking forward to our office Christmas party but some politically correct managers banned it this year so it would not upset non-Christians!
Mohamad, London
My mean company has arranged the party in an out-of-the-way country hotel, which will cost a couple of hundred pounds to get to and from (by taxi) or about the same to stay overnight. I haven't had a pay rise for four years and my promised Christmas bonus hasn't appeared, so I can't afford to go.
Mo C, Surrey, UK
Sorry I didn't attend any "Christmas parties" this year; we went to my girlfriend's "holiday party" because it's no longer acceptable to say "Christmas" in public in North America. Thank goodness you guys in the UK haven't caught on to this political correctness movement that has gone amuck on this side of the Atlantic.
Gordon, Montreal, Canada
I just got back from my annual company Christmas Party. I've worked for this retail company for 12 years and this was the worse party ever. Past Christmas parties were really nice with gifts and raffle prizes. But this year the raffle was for company gift cards from $20.00 to $100.00. (One hundred dollars was the grand prize). Before the grand prize was a DVD, CD player or TV. As soon as management started to give the gratitude speeches people started leaving. What a party!
Neil, Sacramento, California USA Oh no! Where am I? Who's that? My office party was brilliant...I can't remember any of it!
Anon, Somewhere
Well we had one party last Friday, lots to eat and drink, had a dance and everyone had a great time, some more than others!! (No comment). We have our big party this Friday, about 250 people I think, free drink all night and of course the Christmas disco. Merry Christmas everyone!!
Dave, Sussex
As one who works in a hotel Christmas parties are a dreadful time of year. We all get hassled by drunken party-goers, punch-ups over the punch, drunks in the lifts and room swapping by the shed load! Mind you the staff party is no better! Have fun with whatever you do to celebrate and save us from the PC brigade!
Rob, Coventry, UK
The best Christmas 'party' I've attended at work was when we used to have a special meal in the canteen, and the managers would be the waiters. It was a bit of fun, a chance to rag the managers ("Nice to see you doing some work!"), and it wasn't too long. Or too rowdy (no alcohol since most people had to drive home later). The worst ones have been 'organised' where everyone is expected to attend, and the top managers give "pep talks" about how great everything is...
Chris C, Aylesbury, UK
Due to my beliefs, I do not celebrate Christmas. However, I was 'obliged' to attend a Christmas lunch with my work colleagues yesterday. This entailed leaving home (I work from home full-time) at 9.30am to travel to London for a 12.30 lunch. This went on for three hours and I finally arrived back home at 7.00pm. What a waste of a working day!
Jon, Derbyshire
It'll be great - going round the pubs and clubs of Newcastle. No over-priced 'meal' and rubbish 80's disco for us!
Lee, Hebburn, England
| We've booked a restaurant, and will be having a full Christmas meal |
I'll be going to my office Christmas bash next week. We've booked a restaurant, and will be having a full Christmas meal, followed by a coach into town for those who wish to leave the car at home. About 2/3rds of the office will be coming and most are looking forward to it. If you didn't want to come, there was no pressure to. There will be no obligation to get drunk, and the evening's entertainment will be in a local pub, so people can do what they like with that.
Kat, Worcester, UK I have organised our Christmas party in accordance with the RoSPA guidelines. We are not serving alcohol, in case anybody gets drunk and falls over; we are not serving food, in case anybody eats too much and sues us for causing obesity in later life; there will be no music as people's hearing might get damaged; the photocopier has been locked away; there will be no carols or other Christian artefacts, to avoid offending anybody from other religions; there is no mistletoe, in case of sexual harassment suits; there are no presents, because somebody might not get one, causing permanent psychological damage. Of course, I could have avoided all these precautions, because nobody wanted to come.
John Moss, London, UK
My work colleagues and I have decided to cancel this year's Christmas party. We are donating the money we would have spent to charity instead.
Pauline Doherty, Glenrothes, Fife
| Food was good, entertainment was good |
We had our Christmas night out last night, we all went for a meal. Food was good, entertainment was good, our office are all good friends. Unfortunately the manager had to go to another meal same time as ours with all the other managers so he missed ours. Good time had by all.
Yvonne, Liverpool After spending an entire year with your eye on that special someone at the office with no chance whatsoever of anything happening, the Christmas party with its inevitable good cheer and inebriation is the perfect opportunity to make the impossible come true. Just be discreet or you may wind up fired, especially if that special someone is the boss's daughter!
Mark, USA
Our bosses are so boring they won't allow us a Christmas 'party'; they call it a 'gathering', which sums it up quite well I think. Last year someone spilt their orange juice and we all got rather exited about it.
L, Sheffield, UK
Why don't companies simply give financial bonuses to employees instead of throwing parties? Then people could choose to spend party time with their own friends at their own 'risk,' or spend the money some other way. Don't we see enough of our colleagues at work without having to socialise with them too! I'd much rather socialise with my friends in my own social circle.
Chris, London, UK
| The last Christmas party I went to was at my local gym |
I might be in the minority here, but I often choose to have a drink after work with colleagues. The reason - simply that they're a good bunch to have a drink with. The fact I work with them doesn't make them abnormal, and the ones we think are complete (insert expletive here) simply don't get invited. Likewise at the Christmas party they are the ones we avoid. The last Christmas party I went to was at my local gym, and by the end of it people were swimming naked in the pool. The trouble with we Brits is that we're too uptight, perhaps if we let our hair down more often we wouldn't see such a blow-out at specified times.
Nige, England Me and my colleagues are contemplating about the purchase of a large roll of bubble wrap and soft cushions. We can then go to the office party in total safety!
Darren, Essex, UK
Judging from the comments here, it is no wonder that there is such a problem with drink among the young. Look at the example their elders are setting!
Joanne, London, UK
I've worked for several companies here in the US and attended their Christmas parties. None have been like the ones in the UK described in this forum. I've never seen a drunken brawl, people dancing on desks, inappropriate sexual behaviour or anything else described here. What on earth is going on in the UK? Do people over there really not know how to handle themselves or their drink?
Greg, Philadelphia, USA
I hate office Christmas parties. One year, our companies party was held at a private country club. Nice. As the party was winding down a bunch of people wanted to drive into the city. I didn't want to go and so I said that I'd had a couple of drinks and didn't want to drive but I was by far one of the more sober people there. In an effort to force me to go, they pulled out an portable breathalyzer test and made me take it. The next Monday, the talk all over the workplace was about how drunk I was and how I had to be given a breathalyzer! I hate office Christmas parties and when booze is given to some of the idiots at work, there is no telling what they will do. I have since left the corporate environment and I now own my own business.
Melissa, Washington DC, USA My husband and I are attending two "corporate" parties this year. Both are being held at the host's home and both are said to be "casual". One is an open house for the company's execs and their significant others where people arrive throughout the specified times of the party, mingle and leave. The other we already attended and it was a fondue party for several executives and their spouses. Surprisingly, I must say that the fondue party was the best party I've been to in a very long time. No-one drank too much, lots of laughter and everyone had a lovely time.
Beth, Bristow, Virginia USA
Not sure about the UK but here in the States, the old fashioned office party at the office with people getting sauced out of their minds and dancing on the desks, is pretty much a thing of the past here. Companies are opting for more low key alternatives and in many cases they are not having a party at all. I heard of one company that has even postponed their "holiday party" until January, when things are less expensive.
Ramona, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
It's nice to see that people are the same on both sides of the Atlantic and corporate nonsense is not solely a domestic issue. The majority must bear the brunt for the actions of the ignorant, intoxicated few.
Rob G, Kansas City, USA
Whoever it was at Norwich Union Healthcare who decided it was a good idea to pay for this research really, really needs sacking. What a complete waste of time and money. Perhaps the P45 could have "Bah Humbug" on it somewhere...
Jamie, Sheffield
Each January, when my new diary arrives, I write a memo to myself: "Do not get drunk at the office party" and each December I try not to forget what I have written. Success is mixed - yearly behaviour varies. Obey it and for the next year you will be one up on your colleagues who, with an arm round your shoulder, will have unburdened themselves with regard to their plans, schemes, likes and dislikes, plots and conspiracies for the coming year. It is much more fun to look forward to a full 12 months of pre-empting, tripping-up, point scoring and occasional indulgence in corporate blackmail ("... does your wife know about Veronica?") than drinking too much, shouting at the great white telephone and walking round all next day with a head like diesel engine and a mouth like a gorillas armpit.
John Lawrence, Southampton, UK I am a Health and Safety Manager for a large company and I cringe whenever reports of this nature are issued. They do little to promote real safety improvements in the workplace, but do a great deal to undermine the credibility of our profession. I hope everyone attending an office Christmas party has a great time!
Chris Gibson, Bristol, England
Yes, my Christmas party on Monday will go without a hitch because I won't be there - thank God this year I've got a legitimate excuse not to attend, my mother is having an operation on Monday. Excuses for non-attendance at previous Christmas parties range from ear infection to car breaking down on the way to the restaurant - who wants to socialise with people who you spend eight hours a day, five days a week, 48 weeks of the year with!
Pauline, London
| Well mine will be quiet - I'm one of the increasing number of lucky people made redundant just in time for Christmas. |
Well mine will be quiet - I'm one of the increasing number of lucky people made redundant just in time for Christmas. Why do firms always make people redundant just before Christmas? Is it so that everybody else can feel even more happy?
Andrew M, Walsall, UK I wish I went to the bank party in Bermuda (see below). Sounds great!
James Murphy, Dorset, UK
Ours has been cancelled - 25% of the staff have just been made redundant!
R, UK
Surely it's about common sense? Of course there are boundaries and limits to what one should get up to - they are still representing their company after all. As adults, we should all act responsibly for ourselves and others without the need to sacrifice a hard earned job or career all for the sake of a stupid moment. At the end of the day your job is the most valuable possession you have next to home and family.
Mike, London, UK
We had our Christmas party last night and through some bizarre coincidence Paul Burrell from I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here was in the hotel bar having just flown back from Australia. With safety in mind, I didn't ask him to wrestle with snakes, I just shook his hand and told him I voted for him.
Richard Jackson, High Wycombe, UK
Ignore the silly Health and Safety people and get on with life. Have fun and play with risk, its good for you!
Chris Davies, Chippenham, UK
We've had a mass email warning against putting up Christmas decorations because it "may disturb the asbestos in the ceilings, which is otherwise perfectly safe if left alone."
Anon, UK
It's a good job Wernham Hogg did not follow the RoSPA and TUC recommendations. Otherwise, Tim and Dawn may never have got together!
Charlie, UK
These PC ninjas want to make everything bland and humourless. Let people enjoy themselves and if mistletoe offends you then don't go to the works do.
Anon, UK
Two senior managers in dinner jackets covered in red wine and blood after a 'disagreement', the horrible sight of another one with his trousers around his ankles in a compromising situation with his secretary, a friend throwing his resignation (written on a cigarette packet) at the president of the bank, dancing on the furniture, passed out bodies in the bathrooms, just the usual. I won't be attending any more.
I still bank there, Bermuda As a non-drinker I find it a great laugh the week after our Xmas party as all and sundry get drunk and at least one gets hurt (last year's tally: One broken collar bone and many tears). It's great too see all the sheepish faces crawl in on a Monday morning after the party trying to make sense of what they got up to. No change for this year methinks!!
Mark, Cardiff, Wales
The only way to ensure you don't have any accidents and hurt yourself is to live in a padded cell. I wonder if RoSPA are already practicing this?
Trevor, Newcastle
| We have all been banned from entering the office building after 7pm |
Our party is this evening in quite a posh area only a few hundred yards from the office. We have all been banned from entering the office building after 7pm. I wonder why that is?? :-)
Alan R, London I think the photocopiers are safe in my office- none of the staff here has a small enough derriere to balance on a photocopier!
Nathan, Swindon, UK
Our Christmas party is only being attended by management this year - none of the rest of us can afford it. They of course will drink all night on company credit cards, despite having given themselves massive pay rises this year. We didn't get the pay rises, because the company is in trouble. Merry Christmas, one and all.
Sven, Colne, Lancs
Humourless, deadpan party-poopers used to turn up in TV sitcoms and sketches. Now they run organisations like RoSPA.
David Hazel, Fareham, UK
Getting blind drunk, being rude to the boss, some inappropriate couplings in the stationary cupboard - what's not to love?
Wendy, UK
At my last company we had a whiteboard put up the morning after to write down the best gossip from the Xmas party. My oh my, did we have some revelations!
Franziska, UK
Last year, a mixture of too much booze, secretly seeing someone at work, and my best friend all smooshed together ending with a rather raunchy bus ride home - while my boss sat 4 rows ahead of us not daring to turn his head... And now it's time for this year's... Looking forward to it!
Rachel, UK
The first works Xmas party that I went to after leaving school, I spent trying to get off with an attractive older lady whom I had never seen before. She turned out to be the manager's wife. I spent a year trying to live it down. The next year she was there again, and she spent the whole of the time trying to get off with me. I have never been to an office Xmas do since.
Clive, Birmingham UK
| We had to sign a waiver to state that we wouldn't sue if hurt by falling Christmas cards |
I'm a civil servant. We usually draped our Xmas cards over pieces of string which ran above our desks. One year we were told this had been banned, and when the management relented after an avalanche of complaints, we had to sign a waiver to state that we wouldn't sue if hurt by falling Christmas cards. I really wish I was joking about this, but it actually happened.
Andrew Brogan, Leeds, England I've been invited to two parties on the same day. I've declined both invites saying I'm going to the other. Result- Half day off and nobody knows!
Jan, UK
Santa has swapped his red coat and sack for an anorak and clip-board.
Laurence, London
| Wall to wall drunk women...heaven! |
When I was single, I thought office parties were great. Wall to wall drunk women...heaven! As a married man...I refuse to comment.
Craig, Stirling Don't fancy the RoSPA Christmas Party much..!
Martin Rawley, Soton, Hants
How many parties actually take place at the office these days? I wouldn't have thought there'd be that many. It's always interesting to see what your colleagues look like out of work and also letch or gasp with disbelief when you meet their spouses!
Paul, Cardiff
For goodness sake everyone, stop moaning and enjoy Christmas! It's the one time of year everyone can get together and have a good laugh and leave all work issues and worries at the door.
Lauren, UK
Better not serve any cocktail sausages either as they are so obviously suggestive...
Chris, Hastings UK
I prefer to have a party at home and enjoying myself with all good friends. Good friends, I mean safe people who drink but with good balance. We dance and talk about everything in a natural way. Of course we will have a delicious dinner and speak about our ideas and favourite stories that happened recently.
Mohsen, Helsinki, Finland
Sure it will, peacefully at home, I avoid the office parties like the plague.
EW, London, UK
If I was a victim of harassment I wouldn't feel any happier because a ban on mistletoe had been recommended. Similarly, if I was a lecherous boss, I wouldn't feel threatened by the recommendation of a mistletoe ban. Who are these people, and why?
Joe, Newbury, UK
I work for a large international company and each year we get a free bar at our Christmas party. And each year without fail, it's always the Brits that are the first to get absolutely hammered, take over the dance floor and, for the hardened core, start politically incorrect disputes with our German colleagues about who won the war. The gossip keeps the whole company going till the next year!
Fiona, Munich, Germany
I don't understand why people feel the need to pent up their emotions all year and then explode all at once because it's Christmas. I think Rospa is right to remind people that you don't have to drink to excess, harass people and make a fool of yourself just because it is Christmas. Try and relax a bit more all the year round!
Michael Contaldo, London, UK
Ok, making soft drinks for anyone driving is a good idea, but banning mistletoe for the potential to create sexual harassment? It's more likely you will take your eyes out with one of those cocktail sticks with sausages on them, but you don't see them getting banned. Parties are meant to be harmless fun! Surely Health and Safety have better things to be worried about.
Andy, Cranfield
You have got more chance of England winning the football world cup than any Christmas party going peacefully!
Govind, Cardiff, Wales
| Office parties are always a chore |
Who cares? Office parties are always a chore, they are only considered fun by people that have no friends to celebrate with.
Chris, UK
I end up taking my car on purpose so that I don't have to drink. If I drank I would end up telling my boss what an idiot I thought he was.
Brian, Edinburgh Scotland
Of course my Christmas party will pass successfully, because I'm not having one! A decent night in with the folks and a couple of light-hearted visits to the local will suffice. What is the point of getting paralytic? Whoever thinks it is good should go and see a doctor!
Andy, Leeds, UK
We had our Christmas do last night. I only wish one of the guys had injured himself dancing - it was one of the scariest things I've ever seen. It made David Brent look like Fred Astaire. And if you want to photocopy your bits than you need psychiatric help, not health and safety...
Jay, London
Our company has done the ultimate to ensure no problems this year. They've encouraged an environment of little or no corporate spirit. Then, they've declined to contribute. Result, the Xmas party has been poorly received and won't go ahead. Then again, it won't be long before Xmas is outlawed by the PC brigade so, eventually no one will be missing out !!
Anon, UK
The guidelines sound like an exercise in stating the blindingly obvious to me. I've been to office Christmas parties every year for over a decade now and aside from a bit of high spirits and people turning up late the next morning (which isn't exactly surprising, when the company provides a free bar) I've never seen anything getting badly out of hand.
John B, UK
Isn't it time all Health & Safety busy bodies were banned?
David, England
It should be peaceful at around midnight - the girls usually pass out from drinking their Bacardi Breezers by then...
Alfie Noakes, North of England, UK
Will our Christmas party pass peacefully? I hope not!!!
Trevor, Colchester, UK
Let's be honest. Does any?
Chris Thomas, Cardiff, Wales
My company's Christmas Party is at a restaurant next week and it starts at 2.00pm. When the meal finishes we will all carry on drinking in various pubs. Fortunately it is on a Friday so we will have the weekend to recover. Nobody in their right mind would consider driving. My main worry is making a fool of my self. This happened some years ago and I had to brave the office gossip for sometime.
James D , Birmingham, UK
I expect that this Christmas party will be the same as all the rest. Managers trying to talk to their staff like they are one of the 'workers'. People talking shop and arguing over it. And let's not forget the embarrassing intimate encounters that ALWAYS happen. Often the best part of a Christmas party is the morning after! That's not to say I don't enjoy them...
Gavin Jones, Cardiff, Wales
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