By Dan Raker (LEG), Senior Attorney, and Darryl Howe (HRS), Manager Employee and Labor Relations
The holiday season is here and, for many, it is a time to celebrate at the year-end party with co-workers. Holiday parties are great opportunities for team building, recognition and camaraderie. Please remember, though, that holiday parties are work functions. Here are a few important tips to keep the celebration merry:
- Be Inclusive: The party may not have a religious theme — be mindful when selecting decorations and music. Argonne welcomes everyone. To that end, all employees within a work group should be invited to the celebration, but none are required to attend and no judgment should be made about an individual’s choice.
- Be Respectful: As a work-related event, Argonne’s Core Values are to be demonstrated and the Employee Conduct Policy must be followed. Please maintain a level of respectful conduct suitable for work, regardless of the setting.
- Act with Integrity: Sexually explicit comments and unwelcome sexual advances are not acceptable. Any employee who experiences or observes conduct at a holiday celebration that is objectionable should report that behavior to HRS-Employee Relations. Any Argonne manager who observes misconduct should immediately act to stop it and report it to HRS-Employee Relations. Misconduct at holiday events will be taken seriously and investigated in accordance with Argonne’s established procedures.
- Be Safe: Although there is no prohibition of alcohol at off-site Argonne events, please limit alcohol consumption. Organizers should consider outsourcing alcohol service to a professional vendor, utilizing drink tickets and/or narrowing windows of service (preferably at the beginning of the event or during a meal).
These tips are a reminder to everyone in the Argonne community of our high standards and expectations at this festive time of year. We sincerely hope that your events are memorable for all the right reasons.