All the employees gather ‘round the water cooler, waiting for the clock to strike five. The receptionist goes to gather the last-minute utensils. The catering company arrives early to set up, and the food smells delicious. You recognize the D.J. from your weekends at your favorite club.
The is setting up to be an epic event. The boss has already given out the bonus, and your supervisor seems more friendly. Why can’t every day at the office be like this?
You waited all year for that bonus so that you can pay down some debt, maybe even throw some extra pennies in your savings. Sitting at your desk day in and day out you find little motivation to succeed. With the same monthly budget meetings, and human resources annual training you wake up Monday looking for Friday evening.
Your co-workers with their melting pot of personalities and political ideologies leave you on the outskirts. Often your expertise is sought to solve an occasional problem, but very few people take the time to get to know you.
Sticking out like a sore thumb most days, you have accepted that you are not at work to make friends. Seems counterintuitive when as human beings socializing is a major factor in our levels of fulfillment.
The infrequent burst of laughter or the flirtatious comment between the obvious office couple fogs the room. Spending a large part of your adult life focused your career, you tend to be in the company of others more than your own family.
Every holiday there is a potluck and the usual suspects like to bring dishes that no one has heard of. This is the main reason the consensus is to cater.
Especially after the “warm potato salad’ incident.
The drive to be successful can often lead an individual to an uninspired social life. The perimeters and boundaries you set to maintain organization on your journey, can alienate others. In fact, you have been told that you need to loosen up a little.
The idea of changing your routine has always led to trouble. Are you willing to risk trouble at your workplace?
Peer pressure from adult co-workers can be just as toxic and deluding as from teenagers. The Christmas party has been the talk of the breakroom and now it’s here. Everyone has their red and green holiday-inspired attire on full display. The office seems light-hearted and extremely casual as everyone eyes the time clock. The mumbles of the music mist throughout the office. The anticipation of the food being catered steams up the cubicles.
4:30 pm, it’s a half hour before the awkward switch from professional to personal behvaior begins. The eyes of the overworked begin to fill with joy, or it could be the alcohol located behind the minibar. It’s here, the work day is over and now everyone can let loose.
Dressed rather provocatively, the young woman from accounting looks very different. Most of the men in the sales department are quite close to harassing the accounting department as they stare hungrily at her outfit.
The supervisors are still in their office closing up the week. The interns have all gathered at the water cooler like a herd of gazelles hoping to avoid the pride of lions. The music is slowly fading into earshot. The setting sun creates an ambiance. Finally, there you are sitting at your office desk unsure of how to mingle and act ‘normal’.
There are a few inappropriate jokes launched into the air, yet everyone bursts into laughter. Questionable touching is seen between two employees, you are unsure of what line to cross. Eventually, you head to the bar for a coke and lime.
The atmosphere has shifted from stiff-necked supervisors walking the aisle demanding discipline, to the D.J. blasting music that could possibly get personnel fired if played any other day of the week.
Not wanting to let your hair down, you stick to your guns. Quietly making your rounds between conversations about the latest trends to the current state of the political landscape. Your watch has become your best friend as you plot your exit strategy.
The lackluster catering is disappointing to many of the party goers. The receptionist is causing quite a stir with her questionable dance moves. The night is ending and suddenly a loud uproar is happening by the bathroom. The sound of two grizzly bears jostling for territory, a small commotion ends with a hug.
The scent of alcohol reeks from everyone that passes by. With no obligation to stay you decide to head for the elevator and retire to the comforts of your home. As you make your way across a co-worker grabs your hand and asks for a dance. It’s the young woman from retention. You have had an affinity toward the way she carries herself, and relished an opportunity to get to know her.
Instead of dancing, you ask if she wants to go somewhere much quieter to talk. She agrees.
You spend the rest of your evening having a pleasant conversation with decent food and with good company. After dropping her home, you catch a cab to your place without staggering or stuttering.
As Monday rolls around the rumor mill begins to churn. Stories of inappropriate behavior in the bathroom, and vomit in the staircase, you feel completely secure in your decision to remain professional. Though it was an office after-work party with the expectation to let your hair out, you were still at the office.
Ideally, you can separate your professional life from your personal life, but when the two mix that is a recipe for disaster. Encouraged all week to relax and play hard because you work hard, you know you still will be judged on the level of partying to reach.
The amount of discretion you use for an office party may not have the same standard as regular office work hours, but you may still want to show some discernment.
Laughter is a great feeling until it comes at the expense of your livelihood. The pressure to relax and have fun should never outweigh your judgment of right or wrong in the professional/personal arena.
Work-life balance is a tricky road to navigate, yet it is a far worst road to travel from the unemployment line.
If you want to party with co-workers, I’d suggest the proper channels to do so. After work and on your own dime, you have more freedom. Though there are still consequences in this age of social media, you want to be able to truly enjoy the fun you’ll have.
Partying and socializing with your co-workers at the Christmas party isn’t wrong.
However, the amount of personality you show can be a direct relation to the change in your professional trajectory.
This holiday season please drink responsibly, and party responsibly there may be more on the line than a bad photo post on social media.
