Bar None
Today's holiday parties are drying up.
A generation ago, a business's recipe for a successful
holiday party was simple: Stock up on plenty of alcohol, pour
drinks freely, and be quick to overlook employees' inebriated
mishaps. Still sound like a good formula? Forget it--today's
company parties are very different affairs. "There are new
rules for hosting parties," says Joseph West, chairman of the
Department of Hospitality Administration in the College of Business
at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee. "The big
change is, there's a lot less emphasis on booze."
Prudishness didn't dictate this change--caution did.
"Many companies have been held liable for actions of employees
who became intoxicated at events sponsored by the business,"
says Michael Blickman, an attorney with Ice Miller Donadio &
Ryan in Indianapolis.
If a drunken employee is involved in an automobile accident
after a party, watch out: Lawsuits may fly at you from the victim
and possibly even the employee, and damage awards can quickly climb
to business-breaking levels. "This is a real risk," says
Blickman, who adds that too much alcohol may also lead to claims of
sexual harassment. "That can be an employer's worst
nightmare," notes Blickman.
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| |  Need more ideas on how to make the most of the
holidays? Check out
Holiday Central, our seasonal guide for small-business
owners. | | |
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Content Continues Below
Robert McGarvey writes on business, psychology and management
topics for several national publications. To reach him online with
your questions or comments, e-mail rjmcgarvey@aol.com
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