As many as 20 staff have already been suspended in Cork this Christmas party season, according to a leading employment law firm.
John Boylan, of BDM Boylan Solicitors, says he is aware of 20 cases of suspensions for Christmas party behaviour and three of those ended in dismissals.
Speaking to Patricia Messinger on C103’s Cork Today Show, Mr Boylan said: “There is a terrible loss of staff, loss of morale and in some cases damage to businesses reputation as a result of Christmas parties.
“The Labour Court and the ordinary court have decided that the party is an extension of the workplace so that means your behaviour is supposed to be the same as if you were in the office.
“What we are coming across is a huge rise in abuse of managers which causes strained relationships, an upsurge in physical assaults, a huge increase in drug use and a jump in sexual behaviour.
“A lot of employers are discovering a new trend which is nudity at parties (and) people using the free bar, not used to taking shots and brandy.
"A lot of Irish people hear free bar and think there is no tomorrow and they get literally out of their mind hammered.
“That’s been made worse by mobile phone usage, by videos, photographs and then there is no going back.
“Someone sent me in a video this year where you had a man in his 60s on the dancefloor nude and if I had gotten it, unfortunately that means it has gone viral.
“If someone gets to that state they will probably not remember the next day - and we are finding a lot of places are losing these employees as they are not even turning up the next day or the next Monday out of embarrassment.”
The expert in employment law said there is a major problem with relationships breaking down or, on the opposite end, turning romantic after a few drinks.
Mr Boylan added: “Feelings on the love side and the problems with management side always tend to come out after drink.
“They (employers) should not provide overnight accommodation, it’s a recipe for disaster.
"If there are to be drink-induced relationships starting and they are married people or people in relationships already with partners - if they are drunk and their judgement goes out the window and then there are rooms upstairs booked for them, it is not a good idea.
“We have found numerous examples of the two finding it very hard to work together after that.”
The law firm ask employers to check if a Christmas party is really what people want and could they do something else for employees.
Mr Boylan added: “If you really asked the question if people want a Christmas party, you might be surprised that in a lot of cases they won’t.
“In over 50% of cases I can say it actually negatively affects morale - you can give up to a €500 voucher to people tax free, for example."
