Bite-Size H&S - Workplace Christmas Parties
Published: December 7, 2023
Employsure Health and Safety Adviser, Lauren Schweitzer, walks us through the best steps to manage safety risks at your work Christmas party.
Read Transcript
Hi,
my name's Lauren Schweitzer,
and I'm a Health and Safety Adviser here
at Employsure.
When it comes to office
Christmas parties,
it can be confusing
for employers and business owners
to know their responsibilities
and duty of care.
It's important to note
that your company endorsed
Christmas party
is considered a work related activity,
and therefore health and safety
policies and procedures
apply in this context.
Here are some tricks on how to organize
your next Christmas party.
Set the right expectations
prior to the Christmas party.
Employees are expected
to follow company policies and procedures
during a work function.
Set clear boundaries
on the start and finish time.
Remind employees
that they are responsible
for their own health and safety
after the Christmas party
has finished.
Reinforce the company's
relevant health and safety
policies and procedures
such as bullying and harassment,
drug and alcohol,
incident reporting and social media
prior to the event.
Clearly explain appropriate
and expected behavior.
Remind employees
and provide
options on how to safely travel
to and from the venue.
Inspect the venue for potential hazards
such as slips, trips, or falls.
During the Christmas party,
remember, not everyone is drinking.
Provide plenty of non-alcoholic beverages
as alternatives.
Provide plenty of food
to mitigate the risks of alcohol.
Designate a senior manager
to always be present
and sober during the party
to supervise, monitor
and handle any inappropriate behavior
if it arises.
Remember, failing
to take preventative measures
can result in claims
and can be costly for your business.
Contact our Health and Safety Advice team
on 1300 651 415
to learn more about how to safely organize
your next Christmas party.