From shuffleboard showdowns and questionable karaoke bravery to Secret Santa reveals and dance-floor optimism, workplaces across the UK are deep in the thick of festive celebrations right now. And the energy is high as ever – it truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
But for HR practitioners, it’s also a season that demands more vigilance than most. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, excitement fuels bold decision making, and the blurred lines between “colleague” and “party pal” can create some unexpected HR headlines the following morning. While line managers and leaders are absolutely encouraged to enjoy themselves, they also carry the responsibility of keeping the environment safe for all employees.
In their recent podcast episode, our co-founders and people directors, Sarah and Lisa, share five top tips to keep the festivities feelgood while ensuring everyone heads home with their dignity – and reputation – intact. And, of course, they come armed with a few brilliantly relatable tales from the HR front line to set the scene.
1. Set the tone (without being the fun police)
Sarah and Lisa’s first tip is all about setting the right tone for the evening, without accidentally turning into the office Grinch. No one wants a long list of commandments landing in their inbox – it’s a Christmas party, not a risk assessment wrapped in tinsel.
A gentle, friendly reminder does the job beautifully. Something that essentially says: “Have fun and enjoy yourself… but also remember you’re still at work, with your boss. And your boss’s boss. And possibly your boss’s boss’s boss.” It’s about nudging people to behave themselves in a way that still feels festive and good humoured. As they say in the episode, you want the night to be memorable – just not in the kind of way that gives anyone Monday-morning anxiety.
2. Moderate the alcohol-fuelled merriness
Alcohol has a unique way of turning quiet colleagues into karaoke headliners and convincing otherwise sensible adults that yes, they absolutely should tell the CEO their thoughts on Q2 strategy. As Sarah puts it, the Christmas party is all fun and games until someone does something they’ll regret on Monday. And for one unfortunate employee in her early career, that regret involved taking a full running leap onto the managing director’s moving car. (Spoiler: he did not find it hilarious. Monday’s conversation was… thorough.)
A little reminder to pace the evening can save everyone from starring in next week’s HR anecdotes. It’s also a good idea to provide plenty of non-alcoholic options for those who prefer to stay dry, and avoid anything that accelerates the evening – like putting the company card behind the bar, sponsoring several rounds of shots, or letting the party spill into hotel rooms. Because, let’s face it, what happens on tour definitely does not stay on tour.
Remain alert to brewing conversations too. When technology meets tipsiness, it can be a little bit of a disaster. In another of Sarah’s HR tales, a late-night love confession once made its way from a doting employee to the entire company by mistake – a perfect reminder that once the festive fizz kicks in, even Teams isn’t safe.
3. Make celebrations inclusive for everyone
Tip three is all about remembering that not everyone’s idea of festive fun involves belting out Mariah Carey at 1am. Some people love a mulled-wine-fuelled boogie, others prefer to observe from a safe and sober distance. So, make sure there are plenty of great non-alcoholic options and don’t build the whole evening around who can drink the most prosecco the fastest.
Accessibility matters too. If someone needs step-free access, quieter spaces, or help getting there and back, make it easy for them. And then there’s the iconic dietary spreadsheet. Yes, it’s long and can be complicated, but it does prevent accidentally poisoning a colleague, which is unsurprisingly considered good HR practice (even if the office ‘naughty elf’ thinks otherwise).
It’s also worth remembering that not everyone celebrates Christmas at all. In a diverse team, a December knees-up might not feel magical for everyone, so think creatively about ways to be inclusive. Maybe it’s a New Year reset, a winter warm-up, or something completely non-festive.
4. Have fun, but keep your manager mode on
Even if you’re dressed as a festive elf and singing along to Slade, you’re still a manager, which means your behaviour sets the tone. Keep it light and friendly, but maybe resist the urge to overshare work gripes in the middle of the dancefloor.
Stay visible rather than vanishing to a corner, and use the night as a rare chance to chat to people you don’t usually get time with. If someone starts teetering on the edge of a rant, a tearful confession, or an ill-advised Christmas kiss, deploy the distraction tactic: “Shall we grab some food?”, “Let’s get some air,” or “Come meet so-and-so!” all work wonders.
And above all, enjoy yourself. You can still have a brilliant night without stepping into Monday-morning-HR-incident territory – just keep enough awareness to make sure you’re going home with good memories and not a festive fiasco you’ll need to manage the fallout from.
5. Plan the exit strategy (and morning-after protocol)
As the night wears on, there’s always that moment when someone hits “peak merriness”, as Sarah and Lisa call it. A good manager steps in before dignity fully dissolves and the story becomes office folklore. Sometimes that means a gentle nudge toward a taxi, and sometimes it’s the firm-but-friendly “Let’s call it a night before we create memories HR has to file in the morning.” And remember, the dance floor will still be there next year. Your team’s dignity? Less replaceable. So help people exit gracefully and save them from tomorrow’s cringe.
If anything does need sweeping up the next day, act quickly. A light overstep usually just needs a sensible morning chat, and then everyone moves on. But if it’s more serious, HR will need to get involved. Whether it’s offering a quick bit of advice for a one-off issue or providing fully integrated fractional HR support, our team is primed and ready to help you have those conversations.
6. Navigate HR headaches throughout Christmas and beyond
At the end of the day, the Christmas party is supposed to be fun. After a few tough years that have limited human connection, having a moment to breathe, celebrate the wins, and properly get together as people really matters.
But, like all good things, there’s a balance to be found. A great night doesn’t require chaos, drama, or any Monday-morning admin. With a bit of awareness (and maybe an early rescue mission or two), everyone can enjoy themselves, stay safe, and head into the break with merry memories to look back on with fondness.