The holiday season is upon us, bringing with it all the festive cheer: decking the halls, sipping mulled wine, listening to Christmas tunes, and — naturally — an evening out socializing with the very colleagues you're paid to spend your days with. To help you navigate this merry period, we've put together a guide to making the office Christmas party both enjoyable and survivable.
Organizing the Festivities
If you're the one in charge of planning, best of luck — you're bound to hear plenty of complaints. For those of us who prefer to stay out of it, resist the urge to gripe about the location, timing, or theme to the organizer, unless — of course — they've chosen a strip club or something equally inappropriate. Coordinating an event for a large group is notoriously stressful. Besides, being rude might cost you free drinks — not a risk worth taking. Your main responsibility is to arrange your ride home in advance and share your plan with a few people so you don't lose track and miss the last train or bus.
The Secret Santa Exchange
The infamous Secret Santa tradition. If you're organizing it, rely on online platforms like Elfster or Sneaky Secret Santa to minimize errors and save yourself the hassle of cutting paper slips as if it were 1999.
When it comes to buying, if you draw the name of someone you genuinely know and like, give yourself a pat on the back. Pick something thoughtful they'd appreciate — a cookbook, running gloves, or a new pair of earrings.
If you end up with a colleague you've only exchanged a few words with by the photocopier or met in a meeting you barely stayed awake through, proceed with caution. Not only is receiving a random trinket annoying, but it's also wasteful when people toss away items like water pistols or novelty reindeer droppings.
Edible gifts are always a safe bet — chocolates, candies, a bottle of wine, or craft beers. Try to discreetly ask other coworkers about the person's tastes, especially if they don't drink or are vegan, to avoid an offensive gift. Alternatively, opt for a neutral fallback: a new mug, a plant, or a notebook. If you truly dislike the person, buy a Cliff Richard calendar — at least everyone can have a laugh.
What to Wear
Determine the dress code well in advance and avoid leaving your outfit planning until the night before. There's nothing more stressful than scouring crowded stores for a party dress or — heaven forbid — a costume at the last minute. For a casual event, a festive Christmas jumper signals that you're taking the holiday spirit seriously. If you want to add some seasonal flair, Flying Tiger offers affordable accessories, including a hilarious dancing turkey hat. For a more formal affair, opt for velvet, sequins, or sparkly pieces. Maybe not all at once, but it is Christmas, after all!
The Party Itself
If the event includes a sit-down meal, arrive on time — or even a bit early — to avoid being seated next to tedious Bob or non-stop-talker Sharon. If you're stuck beside someone who insists on discussing work, suggest scheduling a meeting later or steer the conversation toward their holiday plans. Alternatively, simply say you need to move seats to 'network' — problem solved.
If you enjoy a glass (or three) of wine, choose your drinking companions carefully. Don't spill workplace gossip to someone you barely know. Try to drink water as frequently as you drink alcohol, especially on a weeknight. You don't want to be remembered as the person who vomited on a street corner and was escorted home by overly responsible Pauline.
If you're single and interested in getting together with Paul from sales, do your research first to confirm he's single before making a fool of yourself. And while age is just a number, make sure you know who and how old your crush is before discovering he's an 18-year-old intern — the only way to recover from that embarrassment might be to quit your job.
If he's both single and an appropriate match, go ahead and flirt, then casually suggest grabbing a drink sometime. Hint at exchanging numbers. If you're tempted by a sneaky kiss under the mistletoe, try to be discreet (though that's nearly impossible with gin and all your coworkers around) and perhaps save it for a proper date. Besides, the next morning you might realize he's not as attractive without seven tequilas or in a dimly lit bar.
Finally, make sure you have fun, mingle, and talk to new people. You might make a new friend or a useful work contact. If you do end up embarrassing yourself, just laugh it off, don't make a big deal, and hope everyone forgets by the time 2018 arrives. If they don't, you'll need to start a new rumor to replace it. Merry Christmas!
