Bite-Size H&S - Workplace Christmas Parties

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.