Well, the holidays are coming fast, and that means the inevitable office Holiday Party.  And as much fun as that sounds, these parties can be a minefield of potential liability for companies of all sizes, particularly if there is alcohol involved and the party is not well conceptualized ahead of time. But never fear – you really can throw a safe and memorably fun office party if you plan ahead, and keep these tips in mind.

First up – publicize the party rules well in advance.  Make sure your team fully understands company policies on respectful communication and interactions – and have clear definitions on what constitutes harassment.  You also need to be clear on enforcement.  I suggest that a few days before the party, send around a memo to remind everyone of the guardrails.  And actually, it’s not a bad idea to mention in your manager or leadership meeting that those in a leadership role are held to a higher standard – and you are counting on them to set the tone for appropriate behavior.

If you’re going to have drinks, carefully consider drink tickets – that way you can more easily manage the amount of alcohol that’s being served – and be sure to have a chat with the bartenders.  Make sure they understand you have zero tolerance on overserving – and that goes for people who show up with a couple under their belt already too.

Also, a pro tip here – California has specific rules around when and where you can serve alcohol, and if you need to have a license.  Be sure to check the guidelines on the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control before moving forward.  And actually, just to be sure you’re on the safe side – hire a catering company that has a license.