With the Christmas party season about to get into full swing, no doubt your plans for your staff parties are well advanced. Some employees overstep the mark and employment law queries arise every year.

The stock advice is as follows:

If it is an employer organised event then the employer can take disciplinary action against any employee who misconducts himself at the event. Taking disciplinary action is always easier if the employer has given advance warning before the party of the standards they expect.

If it is an employee organised event then the issues become a bit more blurred. Employers can take action if employees misconduct themselves at events they have organised themselves, provided either that the misconduct impacts on the working relationships or the misconduct brings the employer into disrepute.