Office Party Etiquette - Beware of Cameras

Office holiday parties are a great tradition. But it's harder to have fun at the office party in the age of the internet. It used to be everyone in the office would drink and look foolish, then it would be forgotten by the next day. Now, you come in on Monday and everyone is looking at pictures of you on Flickr singing Karaoke with mistletoe sticking out of the top of your pants. Avoid those holiday blunders with some simple office party etiquette.

Here are 10 Tips to Guide You Through the Office Party courtesy of Peter Post at the Boston Globe:

1. RSVP: When the invitation is issued, make sure to RSVP as soon as possible, but definitely by the "reply by" date.
2. Date: If the invitation includes a significant other, be sure to ask him first, and then let the organizer know if you're attending alone or with him.
3. Dress: Give your significant other the heads up about what to wear so they can plan accordingly.
4. Punctuality: Arrive on time. There's nothing worse than being late and looking like you either don't care or are disorganized.
5. Introductions: Be sure to introduce your significant other to your boss and to the people you work with, especially if he or she has never met any of them. It helps him or her to put a face to the names of the people that you talk about when you come home.
6. Inclusion: Don't abandon your significant other. Make an extra effort to include them in the conversation.
7. Conversation: Avoid talking about work. This event is a time to get to know your co-workers on a more personal level, discover their hobbies and interests.
8. Drink: Beware of drinking too much. Long before you're over the limit, alcohol can cause you to say or do things that you might regret or have to apologize for the next day. Avoid that possibility completely by not drinking at all or by adhering to a one-drink rule for the evening.
9. Food: Enjoy the food but eat in moderation, and most certainly don't ask if you can take a "doggie bag" home.
10. Thanks: Thank your boss and the organizer of the party twice: once at the end of the party when you find them and say goodbye, and the second time when you send a thank-you note to each of them.

I'm going to add "beware of cameras" to this list. Remember that anything you do can end up on the Internet. And before you know it, the picture has been Dugg, Tweeted, and Retweeted. Those images live forever.

Do you have tips of your own to add to this list?

7 Reasons Not to Cancel the Office Christmas Party

So your boss says there's no office Christmas party this year? Not so fast! Instead of accepting your fate, fire back a business case outlining the reasons for keeping the holiday tradition. Here are seven expert opinions to get you started...

"Christmas is fast approaching - it is the time to make people feel special, to honor their contribution, to notice what they do. And to celebrate what was achieved. People won’t mind if what you do is smaller, less expensive. But doing nothing is not an option." - Naomi Simson, Author; The Christmas cruch

"...the Christmas party is a necessary reward and a morale booster. Our people are our greatest asset and we require the very best talent to help our clients through the current difficult times." - Carmel O'Connor, human relations executive with PricewaterhouseCoopers Ireland; Demise of office party greatly exaggerated

"...there's a fine line between cutting to the bone and cutting your own corporate throat... cancelling the office holiday party sends the wrong message to whatever employees remain... the annual get-togethers can help workers get to know each other better and strengthen ties when morale is low." - City News, Canada; Why you may not be getting much of an office Christmas party this year

"...paring down a party may make sense, but canceling it can prove damaging. A year-end celebration can help workers get to know and trust one another in an era when turnover and telecommuting can make that difficult." - John A. Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas; In tough times, the office Christmas party is getting downsized

"The awful irony is that when organisations don't promote networking opportunities then individuals become less efficient and ultimately that costs the company more... People work best when there is a sense of familiarity and cutting out the Christmas party undermines that." - Dr. Simon Moss, Monash University psychology lecturer; Financial crisis kills the office Christmas party

"...employers should be wary about scrapping [the Christmas party] in response to the economic downturn because the long term impact could be damaging on employee engagement and organisational performance. As reward becomes ever more individual, the Christmas party is one way of reminding staff that they are part of a common endeavour." - Charles Cotton, CIPD Reward Adviser; Christmas spirit prevailing in British organisations

"...before you go cutting back on the festivities this holiday season, think about the repercussions on your employee's morale and motivation. Such penny-pinching can be a huge mistake. It sends a strong message that the company isn't doing well. Instead, this low-cost holiday celebration alternative that'll leave them rolling in the aisles." - Larry Weaver, Author; Cut the budget (but not the Humor) at your holiday party

Hey, I'd listen to that last guy. He really seems to know what he's talking about...

Download Six Free Awards

Welcome Radio Listeners!

Enjoy these six free certificate downloads. Just click on the images for a bigger view or click the links to download the PDF file.

	Selective Hearing Impairment Award For Only Hearing What You Want to Hear. Download this free Award Certificate
	Baryshnikov Award For Most Skill in Dancing Around the Issues. Download this Free Printable Certificate
	Running with the Bulls Award For Biggest Risk Taker. Download this Free Printable Certificate
	Raisin Pay Award For Most Deserving of a "Raisin" Pay. Download this free Certificate of Appreciation
	Kool and the Gang Award For Excellence in Group Work. Download this Free Certificate
	Bermuda Triangle Award For the Desk Where Things Go in But Never Come Out. Download this free Printable Certificate

Download 101 Funny Awards Certificates

PDF download includes 101 Hilarious Printable Certificates + 6 Award Templates for making up your own Funny Awards. Download now and start using right away!

Christmas Party Cancellations Hit Canada

Company Christmas parties are getting scaled back across Canada, but are not facing the widespread cancellations reported in the United States and Britain. The Toronto Star reports that some companies are opting for Potluck over Posh this holiday season, in their article Christmas bashes feel the Grinch pinch.

Hamilton-based company Dofasco is going ahead with it's annual bash for 5,500 at the Copps Coliseum.

"Our employees deserve this," says Dofasco spokesperson Larry Meyer. "It's one of those iconic things that we take a very hard look at before making any decisions around not having it, but we're going ahead with it this year."

Many companies are choosing to scale back rather than cancel the party.

Of course, the drinks at even the most lavish affairs this year may be sparkling wine cocktails instead of champagne. And you're more likely to be lining up at the buffet than sitting down to a $200-per-person, three-course gourmet meal with free-flowing booze and a professional photographer to capture your glam gala moment.

Other employees are just saying "no" to office party cancellations.

"When Toronto-based Skyservice Airlines announced last month that it was cancelling its costly dinner-dance for about 800 people at the Mississauga Convention Centre, employees stepped in to organize their own big bash, house parties and potluck get-togethers."

Way to go, Canada!

So how about it, rest of the World? Don't let your company cancel the office Christmas party! Try these cost-cutting ideas and use funny employee awards to bring some much-need laughter into the workplace.

How to Toast Your Boss at an Office Party

Ever have to toast your boss at a company party? In this clip from "Arrested Development" Tom's attempt to praise his boss backfire when his coworkers laugh at his toast:

How to Toast Your Boss:

• Start by saying thanks for the party and the work that went into planning the event.
• Repeat a popular phrase or anecdote that your boss frequently uses, being careful not to mock him or her. ("Like Sally always says, all we had to do to win the race is to keep turning left.")
• If your boss is disliked, share a story that makes him or her look good by praising your coworker's accomplishments ("This division exceeded it's goals this year, under the leadership of Bob.)
• Keep it brief. The less you say, the less chance you have to slip up.

What advice do you have for toasting your boss at corporate event?