Working Life > Company > Christmas Party

Christmasparty – die „Weihnachtsfeier“

Definition, Explanation

Tips, Checklist

Definition, Explanation

An every-year-event: The Christmas party in the company. Even in poor times, at least the department comes together to pre-celebrate Christmas with self-made cookies and mulled wine. Some companies, for this occasion, organize a large event, inviting everyone to some special location. The party is an opportunity to increase the sense of community, identification wwith the company and the motivation of the personnel.

For most companies, the Christmas party is also a way to thankemployees and to bring the past business year to a close and an opportunity to look back on the last year. Successes, problems, stressful situations can beadressed in a relaxed athmosphere.

Tips, Checklist

• Do participate in the party, even if you are not Christian. You will have the opportunity to view your company from a different angle and to understand the inner-company relations. Also, you will experience your bosses and colleagues in a more private setting. And, onthe Christmas party, you can show your social competences andprove yourself capable of working in higher positions
• Mind that you are observed and maybe even tested for your behaviour outside your workplace
• Dress adequate to the kind and location of the party, that is more festive for a gala dinner and outdoor-clothing for a sportive event. Incase of doubt, prefer the more conservative clothing
• Mind the basic rules of behaviour:
  • Do not force yourself on others
  • Do not talk bad about your bosses and colleagues
  • Treat your talk partner respectfully
  • In case of a mishap like a tossed glass, politely apologize and possibly undo the damage quickly
  • Hold back imprudent utterances and do not interrupt your talk partners
  • Do not demonstrate boredom but participate in the talks. Often it suffices to listen attentively and ask adroit questions
• If your boss, in drinking mood, offers you the "Du" (informal form of address) or similar, better ignore it. He (or she) might not remember, the next day
• Keep decent with your alcohol consumption. This way, you both avoid being talked about the next day and can be a good talk partner on the party
• Eat from the buffet in moderation. Piling up food on your plate and hasty eating can make you a target of evil comments
• Use the location, the food the occasion as an intro to talking. This way you might finnew ways about your colleagues and bosses. Avoid too personal and private subjects, even if you are not a friend of small talk
• Avoid adressing conflicts at the workplace and do not talk about sensitive subjects like salary increase, company policy, dismissals
• Do not become too intimate with your bosses. Mind their signals of wanting to finish a subject
• Also talk to rather unknown colleagues. This can improve future collaboration
• Be careful with flirting. This is observed and easily makes you an object of gossip
• Carpool for the way home and have one person being the driver not drink alcohol. Be sure to also mind the conditions of motorcar-casualty insurance, so that you do not get into problems as the driver of another's car in case of an accident. Alternatively, use public transport or a taxi
• Return to business style of conversation, the day after the party

If you are involved in organizing the Christmas party, here are some ideas:

• Do a review of the past year
• Collect funny incidents, emails, comments and integrate them in a little speech, without being offensive. The speech can be heldwith theaperitif or after the appetizer, preferably not during eating but inbetween courses of the meal. The host is the first one speak. Further speakers should inform the hosts/organizers so that the order of events can be planned and the cooking personnel is in the know
• An extraordinary setting depends first of all on the budget. Special agencies offer events on mountain huts, in circus arenas, theatres and operas, in casinos and similar

Accident insurances treat Christmas parties as normal insured business action. Condition for this is that the party is approved and invited to by the company management and that the people present are a major part of the staff and include an authorized agent of the employer. Time and place of the event can be chosen freely. The insurance is given until the official end, and also on direct ways home. No insurance is given in case of an accident caused by alcohol- or drug abuse

Last update: 12/16/2009