It’s the silly season, and it’s your job to organise the office Christmas party – traditionally the time of year when people let their hair down and party hard.
 
But it’s not all beer and skittles anymore. Employers have a duty of care to their employees, and that means looking after their health and wellbeing, even at party time.
 
So here are a few tips for a cool, healthy and politically-correct Yule!
 
The office party
• Be as generous as your budget allows. Employees have worked hard all year and they’re looking for a show of appreciation.
 
• Don’t insist that all staff attend. Some people may decline on the basis of religion, while others may have family responsibilities that prevent their attendance.
 
• Publish your dress code in advance, and make sure everyone knows if partners are invited...or not.
 
• In the office, keep waste and breakage to a minimum. Use environmentally-friendly paper cups and plates; move computers out of range of spillages; and avoid indoor fireworks, flaming puddings and candles. 
 
• Avoid party-poppers – they’re a nightmare for the cleaners.
 
• Dancing on desks is likely to cause damage to property and people. It amounts to misuse of company property – as does the photocopying of body parts. Make it clear that such activities are not on, or make certain parts of the office out-of-bounds on the night of the party.
 
• If your company code of ethics forbids the consumption of alcohol on the premises, you may have to seek an alternative venue. Why not make it a memorable event by choosing an unusual location – aquariums, art museums, sightseeing boats, or even regional airports!
 
 
What to serve
• Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks in a row – so be sure to balance the numbers by providing alternatives – fruit juices, mineral water and soft drink, as well as ‘light’ beers. 
 
• Avoid serving alcopops – it’s often difficult to tell the alcohol content, and if consumed like soft drinks, employees will be drunk before they know it!   Serve mocktails instead.
 
• Be aware: Some employees may be underage, and therefore unable to consume alcohol.
 
• Provide food as well as drink – this allows the alcohol to be absorbed slowly.
 
• You want socialising to improve relationships, rather than impair them, so serve alcohol as an adjunct to an activity, rather than as the primary focus. Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is OK, but drinking too much can be harmful to the body – and the career!
 
• If you have wait staff, ask them to re-fill empty glasses only. You don’t know how many glasses of wine or beer you’ve drunk if the glass is never allowed to empty.
 
• Consider turning the alcohol off after 10pm, especially if it’s a work night. Serve coffee and snacks instead. Publish your policy on drinking in advance, to avoid any misunderstandings.
 
· Provide taxi vouchers for a safe return home.
 
Mocktails
Try these fabulous Mocktails using Grassroots Organic and Grassroots Plus Juices:
 
Sober Mule
Blend Grassroots Organic Orange, Apple and Mango juice with mint and ice. Add ginger beer and serve garnished with a sprig of mint.
 
Guava Rose
Mix Grassroots Organic Apple & Guava juice in a jug with lemonade. Add a dash of rose water and pomegranate syrup, stir well and serve over ice.
 
 
Apple Pie Mocktail
Grassroots Organic Apple juice
1 tsp Lemon juice
½ tsp Grenadine syrup
Slice of orange
 
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker / stirrer and pour into a tall glass. Add crushed ice and decorate with the orange slice.
 
 
Pina Colada Mocktail
Grassroots Plus Apple & Pineapple juice
2 oz Coconut cream
1 cup Ice (crushed)
 
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker / stirrer and pour into a tall glass. Add crushed ice and decorate!
 
Blackmagic Mocktail
Grassroots Plus Apple & blackcurrant juice
Lime cordial
Soda water
 
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker / stirrer and pour into a tall glass. Add crushed ice and decorate!
 
Grassroots Juices are the newest, funkiest juices in town!  This dynamic range of fruit juices has been developed around the concept of ‘wellness’.
 
The Grassroots Organic range is made from organically grown fruit, which helps to maintain a healthy planet and a healthy body, while the Grassroots Plus juices are enhanced with ‘wellness’ additives like ginkgo biloba, ginseng and beneficial antioxidants.
 
You can order your Grassroots Organic & Plus juices from Corporate Express.