Christmas is always an exciting time and for many it's the start of various festivities, catch-ups and of course the annual work Christmas party!!!
As an employer, it is also an opportune time to ensure all relevant workplace policies are in place and up to date, because unfortunately work Christmas parties can bring an increase in the likelihood of a workplace claim such as sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination, to name but a few.
If you haven't reviewed your policies in the last 12 months to ensure they are up to date, and you haven't reminded your employees of their existence, you should make this a priority now! If an issue does arise, you want to be able to clearly establish that you have educated your employees in relation to what does and does not constitute acceptable behaviour!
The key policies all workplaces should have in place to survive the Christmas season include:
- Grievance Handling / Processes
- Discrimination
- Sexual Harassment
- Bullying
- Smoking, Drugs & Alcohol
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.