On The Job

How to Survive the Holidays at the Office

Advice on how to navigate sticky workplace situations during the holidays.

By Liz Ryan, Contributing Columnist, Kiplinger.com

November 17, 2011

The holiday season is rapidly approaching, which presents potentially sticky situations for many professionals around the office, from what not to wear to the company holiday party to how to politely tell your co-worker that you aren’t interested in buying peanut brittle from his kid’s school fundraiser.

SEE ALSO: SLIDE SHOW: 7 Holiday Office Party Blunders

Here are five of the most common workplace situations that can crop up around the holidays. And heed these tips for managers and employees on how to address one another without offending anyone.

Attending the Office Holiday Party

We all know that office holiday parties can be potential minefields for business and social interaction. Here are quick answers to common etiquette questions:

To go or not go? Go, unless you’re already planning to quit your job in early 2012.

What to wear? Unless it’s a swanky affair that calls for formal attire, stick with standard office dress. You could add a holiday flourish or two like a glittery scarf for women or a fun holiday-themed tie for men.

What to eat and drink? If you have a chance, eat before you get there. You don’t want to talk to your boss with spinach dip in your teeth. If you plan to consume alcohol, do so in moderation. During my time in corporate human resources leadership, I’ve seen at least a dozen or so holiday party-themed career-stoppers -- from the stereotypical drunken guy passed out on the coatroom floor to the person who dialed 911 because he couldn’t get into his car after the party (only to later find out that the car he’d been trying to McGyver himself into belonged to the director of marketing).

Who should you talk to? Don’t go to the company holiday party and chit-chat with the usual suspects all night long. You also don’t want to go to the opposite extreme and hit up the top brass to let them know about the talent they’re missing in the executive suite. Simply step up to an unfamiliar face and introduce yourself by saying something like, “Hi -- I’ve seen you before but we haven’t met. I’m Joe Smith in accounting.”

What to talk about? Talk about sports or that really good film review you just read. Whatever you do, don’t gossip about other employees, complain about your job or get into shop talk. This is a time to learn something new about your colleagues, not spread office rumors or continue a discussion from a meeting earlier in the day.

Make your pitch? If you happen to find yourself in conversation with a higher-up, you may be wondering if it is the time to propose that idea you’ve been conceptualizing for weeks. The answer? No. Use the conversational opportunity to find out more about the exec’s point of view on the business, instead. They’ll remember you more readily if you show an educated interest in the topics on their plates. Pushing your own agenda won’t impress as much as it will annoy them.

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