07. ‘Tis the season to be silly

Ahh the holidays, the most wonderful time of the year. I love Christmas time and learning about the holiday traditions of people at work and others in my life. Although, some things never change. You always have the same conversations about how it doesn’t feel like it’s Christmas yet, and the rhetorical asking of where the year went. There’s the small talk about where people are spending Christmas, or when their last day of work is. In the office, they’ll always ask if they’re going to the work party this year. As dry as some of them can be, I appreciate the conversations as I have lots to say.

With end-of-year parties, I’ve been one of the youngest people at the workplace so I feel like I have had the golden ticket to act my part. The part of a youngin with no responsibilities and a terrible hangover looming. “Ha! Kids these days”, they probably say as I take my third shot with my “work-wife”. But at my work Christmas party last week, it was different. I was still one of the youngest, but my role at work is affiliated with HR. It was time to reflect on what I was stepping into as an HR employee and look at the layers of work parties I most times, ignored.

There’s the obvious, wanting to pick an outfit that expresses your personality but is not revealing. Then telling yourself not to drink too much and then realising your coworker’s drinking pace didn’t pertain to your pre-determined limit. The fear of waking up the next morning and wondering how many people knew you threw up or saw you do a slightly risqué move on the dance floor. There’s curiosity about the change in the demeanour of people usually known in the clean-cut four walls of the office.  And, of course, you wonder what your boss is like and secretly hope they let their hair down, so you feel better about drinking your fifth prosecco on the bar tab. 

The Teams chat the next day at work is filled with sarcastic comments and GIFs of people looking tired, sick, or dancing awkwardly (yes, they saw you dancing). It’s all in good fun and good faith, why else would they throw an all-paid party to celebrate the achievements of the year?

So, this work party season, enjoy it, and congratulations on the year. Most of all, I hope you have a good relationship with HR, you might need it.