5 things NOT to do at this year’s office holiday party

Tomorrow is December 1st - welcome to office holiday party season 2007. This is one of the most dangerous times of year for your job and your reputation - tread carefully. Many a career has been ruined by misbehavior at a hall-decked holiday office party.

Here are 5 simple rules to follow to ensure that the gift under your tree this year isn’t a pink slip:

1) Watch the alcohol consumption. This should really go without saying, but overdoing the sauce is probably the #1 cause of office-party horrors. If you can keep this first rule in mind, obeying the next four can be a piece of cake!

2) No hanky-panky. No matter how much you’ve been lusting after that hottie in accounting, now is NOT the time to make your move, casanova. What happens at the office party certainly doesn’t stay at the office party, and the gossip will be starting before the kiss even ends.

3) Mind the crumbs. Remember what mom said, you weren’t raised in a barn. Behave yourself and mind your manners. Say please and thank you, use the correct fork, and chew with your mouth closed - no one wants “see food.”

4) No gifts, brown-noser. This may not apply to every place of business, but in most cases, it’s inappropriate to hand out a gift to your boss in public. If you must feed the urge to give them something, do it in private, back at the office, and don’t give something lavish or over-the-top. Even a small plate of home-made cookies says “happy holidays” without going overboard.

5) You’re not ABBA - don’t be a dancing queen. Save the moves for DDR and the singing for the privacy of your own shower. The last thing you want is your performance documented on YouTube, and posted on the company intranet.

Follow these 5 tips, and you should find yourself gainfully employed (and not shamed) come New Year.

Happy Holidays.