If you are like many Detroit employers, you might be hosting or attending a business party today. Maybe you already had your office party. In that case, hopefully, you followed the tips that this post covers regarding how to try to avoid behavior that could result in legal issues post-holiday.
Work parties this time of year can come with many of the perks that other non-work festivities come with. There will be good food and maybe even free alcoholic drinks. Music will be played, and gifts might be exchanged. While work parties should be fun, workers and employers should not forget it is a work situation that could lead to claims of sexual harassment without due care.
Practical Ecommerce gives a few suggestions that could work to prevent potential incidents of sexual harassment. First, a company might want to remind its workers of the sexual harassment policies within the office and that the company party is considered company time.
While reminding employees of the sexual harassment laws, it can be helpful too to rehash the business’ dress code, if there is one. It might feel like an employer is treating their workers like children, but litigation prevention could save a business and its workers a great deal of future stress.
It is good for corporate culture for workers and their managers to spend time together outside of their daily work duties. But — particularly when there is alcohol involved — all parties must be careful not to take bonding to an inappropriate level. Not only can some drunken actions violate someone’s comfort, but they can get someone sued for sexual harassment and put a business at risk.
If a business faces accusations of sexual harassment following a work party or any other event, it should not hesitate to work with a business litigation law firm with experience protecting a company’s best interests.
