Employers Warned Against Christmas Spirits

The festive season is approaching, and many businesses are already looking forward to their Christmas parties.

However, discrimination experts at leading law firm, Cobbetts, are warning employers to take care when planning their company celebrations, as traditional parties may cause them to fall foul of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003.

Judith Watson, head of employment at Cobbetts, explained: ìChristmas parties tend to revolve around alcohol, and many companies are unwilling to change a tried-and-tested formula. However, employers must be sensitive to their employeesí beliefs and a party that involves excessive drinking may limit or prohibit attendance for Muslim workers, for example.

ìOffice parties are an excellent way of building relationships within the team and can even provide career progression opportunities. If a certain group is excluded from such internal networking, it may be deemed as indirectly discriminatory, and may lead to costly employment tribunals.

ìEmployers should aim to organise celebrations that will not exclude any members of staff. It may involve using your imagination a little more, but there are plenty of ways to involve everyone.î