If your business is planning a Christmas party or other ‘workplace do’ in the coming months, don’t forget to add issuing that festive favourite to your to-do list – that’s right, it’s ‘Christmas party Memo’ time!
Reminding your employees about the expected standards of behaviour isn’t ‘Bah-Humbug’ but a quick and easy step to increase the likelihood of a good time being had by one and all. To help lighten the load, we have a Christmas party Memo for use in your business available on request, so please get in touch.
Thinking of skipping the staff reminder? Three reasons you shouldn’t:
Sometimes employees can get carried away at work-related social events or fail to appreciate that minimum standards of behaviour still apply even though it’s taking place outside normal working hours and/or at a different location. Issuing a reminder about expected standards of behaviour can help to reduce the risk of incidents occurring and is a simple step worth taking. As you may already be aware, your business can be vicariously liable for employee conduct in the course of employment, such as sexual harassment that occurs at a work do.
Prevention is better than cure when it comes to conduct issues. If an incident occurs, it will take management time and effort to appropriately deal with the matter, whether it’s addressing a grievance that arises out of something that occurs at the event and/or a conduct investigation and potential disciplinary process or other action. It’s not the way anyone wants to end the year. Making sure expected standards of behaviour are fresh in employees’ minds makes it more likely your event will go without a hitch.
If, despite your best efforts, a conduct issue does arise at your work event, a reminder about the expected standards of behaviour and evidence of this can help to put your business in a more robust position when addressing the matter.
Remember, it’s important to address any issues promptly and appropriately, so please get in touch for advice on any employee situation your business is facing.
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