3. Don’t Forget Guests.
Not only should you think of your employees, but also remember any guests they might bring. Holiday party guests are a great excuse to check your walkways and stairways for potential falling hazards, and doing so may prevent future slips and falls—even after December.
Also consider opening your party to “employees and guests,” reports Bloomberg, while keeping the definition of guests broad enough to allow contractors and interns to attend without feeling left out.
4. Do Provide Rides Home.
If you must give your employees access to the sauce, ensure that there are plenty of designated drivers or cabs on hand to send them on their merry way. Failing to do so may place a small business owner on the hook for an employee’s drunken mishaps later that night.
5. Don’t Make the Party Mandatory.
If you make it clear to your employees that attendance at your fun office holiday party is required, you may be opening up your business to a host of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state labor claims. Plus, nothing kills holiday cheer like disgruntled employees who feel forced to be somewhere.
These do’s and don’ts should help your holiday party be a blast and not a legal bust.
Source: Findlaw.com
