Just in time for holiday parties, the Department of Labor has posted tips for planning safe and sober office parties. The DOL article cautions that employers can be at risk when employees drink at company-sponsored events:

"Improper use of alcohol may expose employers to liability under tort, workers' compensation or other laws. For example, an employer may be held liable if a person consumes alcoholic beverages at a company-sponsored party and subsequently causes a crash. Some employers have been held liable because negligent acts by employees under the influence of alcohol consumed at employer-sponsored events were found to be within the scope of their employment. In other cases, individuals have been held liable merely because they provided alcohol to social guests."

If alcohol is an essential for your business celebration, there are practical steps to plan a party that is safe for everyone:

• Post a clear policy covering the use of alcohol in work-related situations.
• Serve foods rich in protein and starch that will slow the absorption of alcohol in the bloodstream, instead of salty, greasy snack food.
• Assist your workers in organizing safe transportation alternatives home after the party.

For more tips, see the full article "Nine Tips for Office Celebrations".

You might also like these articles on proper party behavior:

• Office Parties - The Good, The Bad, and the Embarrassing
  
• Top 10 Office Party Don'ts
  
• Behaving Yourself at the Office Party