The office Christmas party is meant to be a fun way to reward staff for all their hard work over the year, but it can quickly become a PR and HR nightmare if someone posts inappropriate photos or videos to social media. Unfortunately, this kind of situation is becoming more and more common as people become more attached to their phones. In this blog post, we’ll look at how employers can make sure their office Christmas party stays off social media and out of the public eye.
The holidays can be a great time to gather with colleagues and let off some steam, but it’s important to remember that what happens at the office Christmas party doesn’t always stay at the office Christmas party. With the proliferation of smartphones, it’s easier than ever for embarrassing moments or photographs to end up on social media and potentially damage an individual or a company’s reputation.
Here are some tips for making sure your office Christmas party doesn’t end up on social media:
- Remind staff not to take any photos or videos: Remind staff ahead of time that it is against company policy to take photos or videos at the office Christmas party and that any such content should be kept private.
- If you want to record the event for the Company, appoint someone for example from the marketing team to take suitable images that can be used formally.
- Discourage inappropriate behaviour: Make sure staff know that you do not condone any type of inappropriate behaviour at the office Christmas party, such as getting excessively drunk or engaging in lewd behaviour. The number of sexual harassment cases following Christmas parties is on the rise and HR must investigate and take action if it is a Company event.
- Encourage staff to think before they post: Remind staff to think twice before posting anything on social media, it will be seen by your boss and others in the company. Consider how they and the Company will be viewed.
- Finally, encourage people to look out for one another, ensuring everyone gets home safely.
By following these simple tips, you can make sure that your office Christmas party remains just between the people who attended it and does not end up on social media. Encourage people to have fun but do so responsibly!