Holiday parties can be a huge liability and safety risk for your business.
As a life safety and low voltage security contractor, we know construction holiday parties can sometimes get out of hand. If you want to better protect your business from employee injuries and potential lawsuits, follow these tips.
- Tip #1 – Remind Employees About Appropriate Behavior: Let your employees know that the holiday party is an extension of work. Tell them that inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Be sure to cover binge drinking and sexual harassment.
- Tip #2 – Be Responsible with Alcohol: If you’re thinking about serving alcohol, be responsible. Consider hiring a bar tender to keep things under control. You might also want to limit the number of alcoholic beverages, especially if hard liquor is available.
- Tip #3 – Host Parties Off-Site: Consider hosting the holiday party at a facility that is specially set up to handle holiday gatherings. This helps to distance your business from the liability of facility-related injuries. Off-site party centers also have professional staff to ensure the party doesn’t get out of hand.
- Tip #4 – Make It a Family Event: If you don’t want the holiday party to get out of hand, make it a family event. Employees are less likely to get out of control when their spouses and children are invited.
- Tip #5 – Watch Out for DUIs: Have alternative transportation ready to take home anyone that looks like they’ve had too much to drink. Additionally, never let employees leave with alcohol from the party.
If you consider these tips when planning a holiday party, you’ll reduce the possibility of injuries, sexual harassment and other headaches.
For more helpful tips for contractors, read other postings on the Hue & Cry, Inc. Blog. It includes helpful contractor resources that will improve productivity and keep your jobsite safe.
