With Christmas quickly approaching and many store social functions underway more senior executives than ever before can now be found liable for safety breaches linked to work Christmas parties. Senior Managers, particularly those in jurisdictions covered by the new Work Health and Safety Act will be called upon if something goes wrong at a Christmas function. 

Claims of work-related bullying, harassment and violence tend to increase significantly during the festive season and employers must take appropriate action to prevent such incidents.

Managers need to recognise that their obligations extend beyond the normal workplace setting and  should be undertaking a risk assessment of proposed Christmas party plans, for example ‘will alcohol be served’ – ‘does the venue have a stair case or balcony that presents a fall risk’, etc. It is important to identify hazards when making  plans and selecting venues. It isn’t acceptable to assume that this will be handled by the Human Resources Department or the social committee.

The following checklist will help minimise the risk level of a workplace event:

• Make sure you clearly communicate to all workplace participants:
  • Safe alcohol consumption – what is acceptable by the organisation;
  • The repercussions of drinking in excess;
  • The legal driving limits; and
  • The responsibility of employees to drink alcohol sensibly and legally.
• Ensure that everyone vacates the premises at the end of the event;
• Take steps to address workplace attitudes that condone excessive drinking prior to the event;
• Ensure employees below the legal drinking age do not drink;
• Provide sufficient food and non-alcoholic beverages;
• Reinforce workplace policies around bullying and harassment prior to the event;
• Do not arrange or pay for drinks at alternative venues after the event is finished (this extends your liability).

 The below table will help you to consider the risks of a social event:

Criteria	Low Risk	Medium Risk	High Risk
Venue	On premises	Licenced premises	Other venues (e.g. the beach)
Alcohol	Non-alcoholic beverages served	Non-alcoholic beverages served, beer and wine	Beer, wine and spirits only
Food	Meal served	Limited Food	No Food
Duration	< 2 hours	2-4 hours	>4 hours
Attendee numbers	Small	Medium	Large

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