Company Christmas dinner: everything you need to know

The yearly appointment you’ve been dreading all year has finally arrived. Just admit it, every year, it is exactly the same as the previous one: the same gestures, the same half smile and the same chit-chats with your colleagues when the date of the company’s dinner is confirmed. The worst of all is that, in your life, you’ll be able to escape from many, many invitations: a time out with your friends one day you don’t feel like going out, the sit-down you give to your Tinder date, you can even postpone a family meal… but you won’t ever be able to escape this one. Ever. 

One of your greatest fears, in the presence of alcohol and at the moment when it starts escaping from every single one of your body pores, is to ridiculize yourself to the point where you will turn into the company’s scapegoat on the following day. But don’t worry, if it is the case, I must tell you that it never lasts. Someone else who will ridiculize himself more than you did will arrive soon enough, just give them some time. But in case you don’t want to have such a bad time, here is the advice you will need to follow during the famous evening… Let’s start! 

You have to go (even though you don’t feel like it)

Avoid not looking like the Grinch of the company. We know this dinner isn’t very motivating, we know it won’t add anything to your life and we know that sometimes pretending to like people is more exhausting than a spinning class: but seriously, you have to go. It might as well be useful to get to know new people or get to know your colleagues better, especially those with whom you spend all year long. 

So attend this dinner, and let your faith be in the hands of God. However, here’s a little piece of advice: don’t arrive punctual. Take your time, it will prevent you from arriving, finding yourself with the people you like less and be forced to look at your glass for quite a long time like if you’ve never seen one. 

Hold your tongue

It is good to socialize with your colleagues and create a team, yes, but hey, control yourself. Don’t think of yourself as Nietzsche in front of your boss and don’t try to pass for the funniest person, because jokes, like anything else in life, must be used to a certain extent only. And, indeed, don’t you dare criticize anyone in the company, you will have plenty of other nights in the year for this. 

Know your limits very well

Knowing when to stop drinking alcohol is always a good thing. Behave, you’re not out with your friends, so when your body says “enough,” don’t ignore it.

No political issues

We all have enough with the respective political issues at family dinners, so better not bring them up here. Avoid any controversial topic, and if at any time you feel that your vindictive vein is going to come out, whisper a tender: “Quiet you’re prettier”. 

Don’t make trouble with anyone: forbidden companions

Yes, the looks and the indirect glaces in the office are very good. But outside of work the pressure of not being able to speak freely is gone and in addition to alcohol it can get out of hand. So, control yourself and always remember that love is blind but co-workers are not. 

Control yourself with social networks

Another complicated subject: the issue of social media. It is possible that you have a little addiction to Instagram or Twitter, welcome to the club, but please consider that not everyone is like you. Be careful with the photos you share from the company dinner, so you won’t regret it the next day…because the stories last 24 hours, but the screenshots are saved for life. 

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Photos: Aljosa Petric