Staff Christmas Parties - so now you know........

[Androcles]

A press release:

Fighting and threatening behaviour top list of reasons for discipline or dismissal following staff Christmas party

One in ten workers know of someone from their organisation who has either been disciplined or dismissed for inappropriate behaviour at the staff Christmas party, a survey of 2,000 employees by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) reveals.

Of these, over a quarter (29%) said that the reason for the disciplinary action or dismissal was fighting and one-fifth (19%) said that threatening behaviour was to blame. The next most commonly reported reasons for disciplinary action or dismissal were sexual harassment (17%), bullying (12%) and other forms of discrimination (8%), for example on the grounds of disability or religion. Almost half (46%) said the reason was for 'other inappropriate behaviour', which could include unorthodox use of the office photocopier, amorous activity on company premises or insulting the boss.

The survey shows public sector workers (12%) are more likely than private sector workers (9%) or those in the voluntary sector (8%) to be aware of anyone in their organisation who has been disciplined or dismissed as a result of their behaviour at the office Christmas do.

Public sector employees are more likely to report that people have been disciplined or dismissed for sexual harassment (32%) than those in the private sector (14%). However private sector employees are more likely to be aware of someone in their organisation disciplined or dismissed following the office festive bash as a result of fighting (33%), compared to staff in the public sector (21%).

Hmmmmmm!