BEWARE the office Christmas party, a Worcester employment lawyer is warning.

Kate Jones, an assistant solicitor with mfg Solicitors, says that seasonal celebrations present a legal minefield for bosses amid the festive fun and while no employer wants to be a modern day Scrooge, they have to take steps to protect their business from the reputational damage and legal consequences of workers who take things too far.

Ms Jones added: “No-one wants to be a party pooper but managers have to remember they’re still the boss and the buck stops with them. They need to remind their workers of company policy and what can amount to gross misconduct. That includes anything that they might be tweeting or putting on Facebook. If there’s a connection to the company, it has the potential to cause reputational damage.

“The manager should not discipline anyone at the event itself but should not be afraid to ask anyone behaving unacceptably to leave. The important thing is consistency and we are working in partnership with a number of firms who want to ensure staff stay on the right side of the line.

“Also, if there’s reasonable belief that someone has called in sick because they were drunk or stayed out too late, the manager can and should investigate further. They can review social media accounts – Facebook, Twitter and so on – and if necessary consider disciplinary action.”

mfg Solicitors has created a Christmas party guide and social conduct policy which includes a variety of do's and don’ts for employers ahead of the festive season. This includes advice about using social media sites.