The legal perils of the office Christmas party

A Thame solicitor is warning businesses of the legal perils that may arise from the Christmas office party.

“It is easy at this time of year for us lawyers (just before we leave for our own firm’s Christmas Party) to pen articles soberly warning of the risk that abundant alcohol and end-of-year high spirits at these events will lead to employers being sued for sexual harassment, employees sacked for assault and sensationalised press reports of the ensuing Tribunal cases attracting embarrassing publicity for both,” writes Tim Preston of Lightfoots Solicitors in Thame.

“Fortunately,” says Tim, “most company Christmas parties do take place without any lasting damage being done.

“However, we have heard, for example, on good authority, of one man who consulted a solicitor as to whether he had a legal remedy after he was dismissed for alleged misbehaviour at a company Christmas party. When asked if the allegations were true, he admitted ‘I don’t know. I must have drunk so much I don’t have any memory of what happened’, which did not make it easy for the solicitor to advise him.”

You can read the complete version of Tim Preston’s article, including his advise on limiting problems arising from the office party,  on Lightfoots’ website HERE