Everybody loves to party. It doesn't matter if it is in a backyard or an office; parties are usually a good time. With each setting comes an unspoken set of rules. Most people follow them, but not everyone does.
My friend Liza told me the story of her mother's holiday office party from this past year to me recently and it got me wondering about party etiquette. Liza's mom works at a financial planning firm in a suburb outside of my town. One of her co-workers is a college student who lives up to most college student stereotypes. She not only dresses inappropriately, but she finds any excuse to come in late or pass off her responsibilities on others. However, her behavior at this past year's Christmas party took the cake.
Liza told me that not only was she wearing an absurdly short skirt; she committed the ultimate office party mistake: She got drunk out of her mind. Halfway through the party she was black out drunk. She began to hit on their very married boss. Apparently, this gentleman in unhappily married to a woman who spends his money and is away from their home for days on end partying. Knowing this, she used the information to her advantage, but forgot about her own boyfriend in the process.
Another party crime to add to her list was that she told personal information about herself. She went into how she'd had an abortion and how she and her boyfriend had kept it from their parents. Why she'd choose to disclose that is beyond me. Even sober you keep this sort of thing to yourself unless you're writing deathbed memoirs. Worst of all, the following Monday at work she remembered nothing. As I said earlier, she'd blacked out.
Navigating an office party can be fun but sometimes slippery terrain. Yes, the atmosphere is more relaxed, but you shouldn't forget that you have to see these people on Monday. Any faux pas you make can and will become water cooler fodder. By all means let yourself go a little. Just be sure that you can get yourself back.
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