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Many times personal celebrations drift into the workplace. When we spend much of our lives with our coworkers, it is very easy for events to take place that are not work related. Parties on office time or outside of office hours should be handled with care.

Host

If you are having a party outside of the office and not including everyone, be very mindful of the dialogue that takes place during office hours. Even though you may choose not to socialize with some of your coworkers, you do spend a great deal of your life with them and do not want them to feel left out or have their feelings hurt. Keep the discussion and planning of non–office-related parties to a minimum.

Guest of Honor

The duties of the guest of honor apply to the workplace as well. Even when everyone from the office attends—even those that you would not add to your personal guest list—it is polite to treat each guest with the same level of care.

Guests

As a general rule of etiquette, a subordinate should not give gifts to their supervisor. Cards of celebration are acceptable. Although your intention may be pure, giving a gift can send or create several mixed messages:

1. You have ulterior motives and are trying to position yourself.
2. You spent too much or too little.
3. Your supervisor will need to respond with a reciprocal gift.
4. Your gift may make coworkers feel uncomfortable.

At the party, remain professional at all times. Even if an event is not work related but you are with your coworkers, it is important to maintain a level of self-respect and honor. It is all too easy to let your guard down off of office time. However, when coworkers or clients are present, they may not differentiate the personal you from the professional you. It is very difficult to rebound professionally from a night of letting loose. Even if you don’t remember, chances are they will!