The Department of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has issued a reminder about responsible service of alcohol at work Christmas parties as the festive seasons gets into full swing.
The Department said the ‘silly season’ was not an excuse to disregard safety.
Head of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, Craig Allen said employers must ensure staff were educated on the policy hazards of partying with workmates.
“Reminding people in advance of the policies around acceptable behaviour and conduct is a good start,” Mr Allen said.
“That includes making employees aware of drug and alcohol policies, bullying and harassment policies, social media policies and codes of conduct before the celebrations start.”
He said managers should be on hand and sober enough to ensure events went smoothly and people began their journey home safely.
“Even if the function is held off site and or under the control of a third party, employers can face workers’ compensation claims and legal action as a consequence of inappropriate behaviour,” Mr Allen said.
“Staff behaviour expectations do not change at a work function whether alcohol is involved or not.”
He warned that complaints often followed festive work functions, especially when photos or comments were posted on social media during or after the event.
Mr Allen said staff shouldn’t feel pressured to drink alcohol, so soft drinks and food should always be available.
“Employers, managers and workers all have a role to play,” Mr Allen said.
“It’s easy to get carried away after a couple of drinks, but workers can’t rely solely on an employer to keep them safe if they take it too far,” he said.
