manchester

christmas

Surviving the office party

It's one of the bright points of the winter months - getting together with your colleagues at the office Christmas party.

But if you're the one trying to organise the get-together, while attempting to please everyone without spending a fortune and making sure it's remembered for all the right reasons, it can take the edge off your festive cheer.

According to David Lethbridge, at Confetti, one of the UK's leading party specialists, it doesn't have to be such a headache.

"Dinner or lunch are both popular choices - it's an opportunity for everyone to have their first taste of turkey when it's still a novelty, and to don the famous party hat," he says.

"Restaurants are, of course, prepared for this onslaught and will put together set menus at relatively high prices.

"If the general consensus is not to sit down to eat, you could opt for a cheaper cocktail and canape party. The key with this is to ensure that canapes are in abundance so that people feel like they have been well fed, not just treated to a warm glass of wine and a curly sandwich!"

And he advises that you always make sure you're on the same wavelength as your boss before making any bookings.

"If he or she is imagining a sophisticated dinner in a local restaurant, they might not be pleasantly surprised by cocktails and tapas at a salsa club."

:: ORGANISE, ORGANISE, ORGANISE

"We all know the importance of location, location, location, but in the case of an office party, organisation is the key," Lethbridge says.

"Find out exactly how much budget you have to play with, and how many people are invited - once you have your cost per head, you can start phoning venues to ask for their Christmas packages.

"Get sample menus, find out what everyone wants to eat, and order in advance," he recommends, and don't forget you'll probably be asked for deposits.

"Whatever you choose, the most important thing is to plan well in advance to ensure that you get the venue and date you're looking for. You really don't want to be celebrating Christmas in November - or January for that matter!" he grins.

And just because it's an office party, that's no excuse to simply send a boring, uninspiring email inviting people.

"If you've spent time planning the event, acknowledge its importance by sending `proper' invitations - done well in advance if you are inviting a large number of people, as you want to make sure the majority can attend," he says.

"Make sure you give all the necessary information, and ask people to reply by a certain time. You also need to make it very clear whether this is a party for employees only or whether people are welcome to bring a guest.

"Never forget to confirm the venue and pre-order menus if necessary - and also put some effort into giving tables a little decoration, with plenty of party poppers and disposable cameras.

"Finally, solve any issue over Christmas presents by organising a `secret Santa'. Each employee should spend a set amount such as £5 on their gift.

"Then let your hair down and enjoy the party!"

TOP PARTY TIPS

:: Spend the early part of the evening impressing bosses and clients. You can drink the party punch when they've all left.

:: Make sure you aren't offered your P45 on Monday morning by staying fairly sober. Drink plenty of milk and eat bread before you go.

:: Give everyone a name tag if clients or customers are invited, so that everyone knows who everyone else is.

:: Appoint a bar person at small office events so that there isn't a free-for-all with the drinks.

:: Choose a themed venue, or provide entertainment - at a hotel there is little to do other than drink, which could mean tears before bedtime! Games, fun fairs, entertainers, magicians, fire eaters and luminous ball throwers, will help people stagger their drinking. Indoor laser shooting or casinos (using pretend money) work well too.

:: Invite staff only, not their partners. For one thing, staff parties are boring for partners, and for another, spouses are an unknown quality, so you can't be sure how they'll behave.

:: Planning to party like there's no tomorrow? Well, there is one, so put a £20 note in an envelope in your pocket, with your home address on the front, and simply hand it to the taxi driver at the end of the evening. That will also ensure you aren't tempted to spend it in the bar.

Source: Trade Secrets: Christmas

:: PARTY SAFETY

The Royal Society For The Prevention Of Accidents recommends booking your bash at a hotel, bar or restaurant, where facilities are designed for people having a good time.

"However if, like many workplaces, you do end up hosting a Christmas do in the office, there are risks that people need to be aware of," warns spokesman Roger Vincent.

:: DIY SOS

"Use a stepladder to put up decorations - there should be one in most offices - and never stand on a swivel chair, as it could send you spinning to the ground," he says.

"Offices are crammed with electrical appliances, which could be a fire hazard if their air vents get blocked, so remember to hang any tinsel or garlands well away from lights and other sources of heat, such as computers."

:: PAINS IN THE OFFICE

"Try to resist the temptation to photocopy parts of your anatomy - if the copier breaks, you'll be spending Christmas with glass in some very painful places," Vincent points out.

"And office furniture isn't designed to be as sturdy as in your local pub, so dancing on desks could do them and you a lot of damage. Likewise, the boardroom table is meant for weighty documents, not overweight executives."

:: PARTY FOOD

The TUC advises keeping party food in a fridge, rather than leaving it out in a hot office all day, as well as keeping fresh and cooked meats separate.

The last thing you want is prawn vol-au-vent poisoning which sees half your colleagues off sick until the New Year.

 Trade Secrets: Christmas, by Annie Ashworth and Meg Sanders, is published by Orion, priced £7.99. Available now.ends