As we head into the so-called silly season – that sun-drenched summer of drinks and parties, barbecues and socialising – there’s a shadow looming over the festivities.
The office Christmas party.
Don’t get me wrong: I like a lot of people I work with, but I don’t socialise with them for the rest of the year. So why do I have to do it at Christmas, when I’m already run ragged by all the other social commitments I’ve got?
If I’ve ever socialised with workmates, we’ve usually bitched about work, other workmates and the boss over a few drinks at the pub. It’s cathartic to let off steam when we can’t do it in the office.
We are now all more alert to the dangers of psychosocial hazards at work and have laws to protect people from it, but what about the psychosocial hazard of having to make awkward small talk with people with whom all we have in common is work, all while pretending how pumped we are about hitting KPIs because the boss is there and paying for the drinks?
Again, don’t get me wrong. I like a nicely catered party with an open bar and I’m all for regulations that prohibit inappropriate workplace behaviour – but how can you really enjoy yourself when you’re constantly watching what you drink and say? Much less in the office, the only place less festive than hospital casualty? This is meant to lift morale? If it feels like work that’s because it is.
And don’t get me started on office Secret Santas! I’m already up against it winding everything up and rushing around trying to find presents for people I actually know and like.
Why do I have to work out what the weird guy in IT might like? And what if I get it wrong? And what if I am given something terrible? Has anyone ever received anything in an office Secret Santa they really loved?
And yet, we feel so ripped off when our bosses don’t throw a Christmas party. It’s like some kind of weird hostage situation where bosses feel obligated to hold them, and we feel obligated to attend them – all of us keeping an eye on the clock so we can go home and have a drink to get over it all.
So let’s forget the office Christmas party – along with team-building day – and head home early, where we can celebrate our freedom from work in our own way – at least until the second week of January.
