Readers Respond: Top Office Party Blunders You've Experienced?

Responses: 42

By Susan M. Heathfield, About.com Guide

Though I don't drink alcohol, and have too much empathy to "hit up" on anyone at an office party, I'm usually the one who will make the faux pas if there's one to be made. So, I will lie if I have to, to get out of the party, have "too much" work to do, or just pop in to say high and excuse myself as quickly as possible. I HATE office parties! Too many politics.
—Guest Sheilah

Was present at a company party last year in which a woman had obviously had too much to drink. When it came time for the recognition awards, her name was called. Unfortunately, she had already gone home, drunk.
—Guest Janet

Fifty years ago, at a party, the band failed to show. I'm not a good instrumentalist or singer--that didn't stop me--I played and sang all night. I learned my lesson and have never picked up an instrument or sung a solo since.
—Guest tom

The owner of our company, Rupert Murdoch, showed up at a holiday party one year. One of the executives was so nervous, she said to her husband as she introduced him to the boss, "Marty, have you met Poopert Murdoch?"
—Guest Susan

It was our annual party where they hand out year recognition trophies. The VP was drunk and was to give a speach for ''Sally's'' (not real name) 10 years. The speech started with 'today I would like to underline the 10 years of hard work of an employee who is not very attractive, not really pretty unlike the previously honored employee...' Need I say more...
—Guest Angie

At one office party years back, a female co-worker was obviously drunk. She was hanging over all the guys at the party and making them go out on the dance floor and dance with her while her husband stood by himself. At the end of the night she was being held up by a female co-worker while she was getting sick in the bathroom. Every female noticed and talked about it at the party and afterwards. It is still brought up every once in a while. Co-workers don't tend to forget these kind of things.
—Guest Amy

Suggestion: all dancing should be free-style only...one office party years ago that I attended, a guy asked me to dance and his style of dancing was like a dog humping on someone's leg...It was horrible...
—Guest Lola

At a party for my husband's workplace, one of his co-workers (male) said, "Nice sweater, you fill it out very well." I guess you can imagine how much I wanted to stay at the party. The man was let go not long after. I'm not the only one he "complimented" that night.
—Guest jen

A long time ago, I danced too close to a manager colleague of my spouse. She way overreacted. Twenty years later, my good sport, my wife still teases me about it.
—drwritelight

Oh yes... our party was Friday night and one of our employees (who we had just met as she doesn't work in the office with us) got wasted and was wildly inappropriate - hitting on gals and guys! We're a fun young company but believe me, everyone was talking about it Saturday.
—Guest Amy

With the economy the way it is, be cautious about asking a spouse/significant other of a co-worker how their job is going. I asked this question at a very large party, but in a small group setting and the person (who had been a marketing director) had been laid off the week before the party. I felt horrible and it was a very uncomfortable situation for everyone, especially me. And it put her on the spot, although she handled it very well (she talked about needing the time around the holidays).....
—Guest Opps

Nice post Susan and a great reminded for all of us who are attending work-related holiday parties in the coming weeks! I have included your post as a bonus pick to my weekly Rainmaker 'Fab Five' blog picks of the week which can be found here: http://www.maximizepossibility.com/employee_retention/2008/12/the-rainmaker-2.html Be well Susan!
—Guest Chris Young

Previous31-42 of 42

Susan M. Heathfield
Human Resources Guide