Remember when you went out with your colleagues? That drinking party where you danced atop the bar; ran up a Rs15,000 bill, and went home at seven in the morning?
The party was rocking, but you don’t remember much of it. The next day in office you realise that your boss refuses to look you or that pretty new girl in the eye. So what do you do? DNA shares some pointers to help you navigate the tricky line between ‘enjoying yourself with colleagues’ and ‘losing your job because of a foot in mouth moment”.
Don’t drink too much
This sounds easy but usually is very difficult to implement. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and even though colleagues may ply you with more booze (they may have an ulterior motive here), stick to your limits. And if you are the kind that tends to open up after a few drinks, be extra careful. You may not remember what you said the next day, but there will be videos and lots of eyewitnesses to remember every gory detail. You don’t want people remembering where and how often you threw up on front of them.
Don’t treat it as a singles’ night
Single or not, your office party is probably not the best place to sidle up to that co-worker you have the hots for and use one of your pick-up lines. It’s better to keep your hands to yourself. Flirt if you must, but keep it healthy. Alternately, hitting on the married colleague may seem all fun and games, but there are people who will remember all that transpired. At the next heated team meeting, you can expect some truths to come out.
Steer clear of the boss
He/she might be really nice and friendly in office and even friendlier outside, but it’s better to keep them at arm’s length. ‘Sucking up to the boss’ won’t be treated too kindly if you are found getting too cosy, especially in a relaxed environment. There is also the threat that your boss could be the kind who will make the most of a situation (with or without the influence of alcohol). Since he is the boss, you can’t/ won’t say anything, despite the comments or the looks, for fear of losing favour or worse still your job.
Keep your mouth shut
Whether drunk or not, people aren’t likely to forget that you spilled the beans about an affair, the corrupt person in your accounts team, or that job interview you have just given. You not only put yourself in trouble but more often than not put someone else’s career in jeopardy. Don’t get goaded into spilling the office gossip, no matter what.
This may sound too foreboding but keeping control over oneself is quite important at an office party, even with ‘friendly’ colleagues. That is not to say don’t enjoy yourself. Have fun, eat, drink, dance but remember whatever happens in the night, you have to face the same people at work tomorrow.
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