How To Survive Your Office Party

It's a once-a-year opportunity to have a fantastic time. And damage your career.

There's a legendary story they often tell this time of year at a large New York public relations firm. It's about when a new hire fresh out of college had too much to drink at the company holiday party. She shared a cab home to the same neighborhood with one of the firm's vice presidents, and, well, she barfed in his lap.

Probably not what you'd call a good career move.

Don't be that person this year. Be merry and festive--have a few drinks and laugh with your colleagues. But don't overindulge. If you get drunk and act foolishly, no one will forget. No one needs any blemishes on his scorecard this year, when layoffs loom at so many employers.

Instead, use this as an opportunity to mingle with higher-ups and staffers in other departments. Holiday parties are a great opportunity to meet important people at your company in a less formal setting.

In Pictures: How To Behave At Your Office Party

"The most important thing employees should always remember regarding office holiday parties is, regardless of where the party is held, it is an extension of the workplace, and you need to behave accordingly," says Lori Erickson, vice president of human resources at Monster.com.

At Bliss PR in Manhattan, founder John Bliss doesn't take chances. For more than 15 years he has required his employees to eat at a pre-party pizza dinner. He orders enough pizza for the 30-member staff at around 4:30 and watches to make sure everyone has a few slices. It's the best guarantee possible that no one will drink on an empty stomach.

"It makes sure people have something in them like blotting paper before starting the party," he says. "That way, you have fun without getting embarrassed."

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Companies like Bliss have a lot at stake. When they invite clients to their parties, the last thing they need is a drunken staffer. That might be less of a concern this year than in the past, though. With budgets tighter than ever, less alcohol is being served. Only 71% of all parties will offer alcoholic drinks this year, according to an annual survey on holiday celebrations by the executive search firm Battalia Winston. Alcohol service hit a high in 2000, when 90% of firms served booze, according to the 20 years of Battalia reports.

The dwindling amount of alcohol reflects the state of the economy. "Throughout the years, we've learned that the percentage of company parties is directly linked to the health of the economy," says Dale Winston, Battalia Winston's chief executive.

It's likely a blessing in disguise. Annmarie Woods recalls a holiday gathering a few years ago for her sales team at a leading financial services firm. The group began the evening at a downtown restaurant and then headed to a dance club. This being a celebratory evening, their boss picked up the bill for a limousine to get them from the restaurant to the club. While en route, one of the staffers got sick and ended up vomiting into her purse.

"The next day at the meeting everyone was talking about it. Their opinion of her had been altered," Woods says.