Finding yourself with a festive hangover and trouble with HR is likely the last thing you want this season
Specialist employment lawyer Julia Woodhouse issued the warning, stating that a work party is technically counts as "company time", meaning that employees should keep their behaviour in check. She noted that in a casual environment, conversation "can become less guarded" and what one person may seem as a joke or even a friendly hug, can be interpreted as "discrimination or harassment".
Other protected characteristics include disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, and religion or belief. Ms Woodhouse added that an incident relating to this at an office party can quickly become a grievance or even lead to disciplinary proceedings. “Employers can seek to protect themselves from such claims by ensuring they have an Equal Opportunities policy in place which outlaws discrimination and harassment. They must also make sure that staff are trained on it and that they deal with any allegations appropriately.”
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