You might want to rethink that slightly offensive joke you've been saving for the office Christmas Party.
OXFORD COUNTY - Offices across Oxford County will be celebrating the holidays this year with a Christmas party.
Canada's Leading Employment and Labour lawyer Howard Hewitt is offering up some advice that employees and managers should consider.
"If someone is still foolish enough to put up a mistletoe, don't use it, no mixed dancing, drink tickets and make sure the policy is you can not have more than 2 drink tickets and you cannot provide your drink tickets to someone else."
Hewitt says he also has some advice for employees.
"Don't ask out your co-workers, if you have had a crush on someone all year and you think it might be reciprocated, don't find out, date outside the workplace, that is my best advice. Don't tell any crude or sexual jokes, don't tell any jokes that are homophobic or racist."
Hewitt says employers can be liable if their employees get out of hand at these parties.
Here is the list of things that employees and management should consider;
- Don't get drunk and belligerent and decide to give your co-workers a piece of your mind
- Getting dressed up as Santa and arming yourself with Mistletoe does not give you a license to get ‘extra friendly’ with co-workers. What might seem like a well-intentioned hug can be grounds for harassment.
- Provide taxi chits - allowing employees to drive drunk after a work event can lead to a hefty lawsuit if they get into an accident.
- Invite the spouses – it’s often the best way to quash pent up amorous intentions among co-workers
- Ban alcohol or limit drinks to two tickets each

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