An expert has doled out festive advice, warning Brits could be fired over their work Christmas behaviour antics – but what if you glass your boss and can you claim overtime for attending?
For those of us gearing up for our workplace’s Christmas bash, a legal expert has weighed in on how we should behave while getting juiced up with our colleagues.
A representative from specialist law firm 365 Employment Law gave a fairly succinct answer to a question many of us have pondered about whether or not we can be fired over what goes down at the office Christmas party.
Turns out, yes, you can be given the boot. In a video post shared on Instagram, the legal expert said: “I have been asked the question can I be sacked for my behaviour at the office Christmas party and the short answer is yes.”
He then added that the end of year party should be treated like every other working day, with the same rules about comportment applying.
He continued: “The Christmas party is an extension of the working day. If you do something that might mount to a disciplinary breach, you can be disciplined, given a warning or potentially dismissed.
“It’s also fair to say that your employer should set out expectations at the Christmas party – what behaviour is expected of the staff attending, what will not be tolerated etc.
“You should treat it as if you are at work and be careful about what you do and how you behave and always make sure you consider it an extension of the working day.”
The answer fuelled a number of questions, one in particular that was left unanswered.
In the comments section, djinn_and_tonic attracted more than 1.5k likes for their remark that suggested they might dislike their boss.
They asked: “Could I be sacked for glassing the company manager.”. In a jokey retort, another Instagram user replied: “No. You can however be offered his job and his salary as now you just own his life.”, while another wrote: “no its a public service”.
Many folk pointed out the hypocrisy in the expert’s reply, with one user writing: “Does that mean the employer should pay overtime rate for the duration of said party?”
While a second commented: “If it’s an extension of the working day then everyone could be sacked for having a drink as that’s not allowed during the working day.”
A third wrote: “Ive never been paid until 4am on Christmas party so if its an extension of the working day im due some back payments”.
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