On behalf of my fruit loop ex husband:

If he said "something" to the husband of one of his works colleagues at a work function - out of hours - and the wife then made a complaint about it, could the company investigate or uphold that complaint?

Happened to me when my OH said something to a worker form a closely affiliated company to the one we worked for and I received the complaint (in Customer Services).  It was after hours on Boxing Day.  I still had to progress the complaint and he got a ticking off from his boss.  He didn't even remember what he had said so it was all wasted on him.

He may receive a gentle ticking off but really things said between grown ups should stay between grown ups.  I despair when they have to run off and tell the teacher:rolleyes:

It seems they can do anything.  My mother has just been sacked for the use of a word indicating a type of person.  She used this word in discussion with a colleague at a meal out of hours.  You just have to be so careful these days....

Surely you have to have something in your contract or belong to a profession with a code of conduct in order to be subject to conduct unbecoming etc.

If it is a work function then it is still work - a lot of people forget this.  We are warned strongly on this as I am a supplier based on a customer account and we had to stop having the social events that crossed companies as some people wont let these things go

But they can't force you to attend, so how can they then force you to adhere to what they think is acceptable? :)

Its political correctness gone mad.

Our company has just given a warning to a member of staff who was drunk at a company/staff party for insulting one of the company's suppliers.

As I was there and witnessed it, I have to agree that some type of action had to be taken, it was out of order and ruined the evening for those involved.

When I was working on 3 seperate Xmas functions with the drunks, they never returned to work after the Christmas period.  They were sacked,

Goodness, what is the world coming to if you can't get drunk at a party :)

I suspect it depends if they can prove it......especially as it was said to the husband, and not the colleague herself. Lets face it, comments passed from one person to another could get twisted by the middle man. Im not sure a third hand comment could get him into much trouble.....I suggest he denies it!

As a Personnel Manager, I can say yes.  Unfortunately, if you are out anywhere with work colleagues it is classed as an extension of the office.  However, Being that it was your husband who said "something" to a colleagues husband (i.e. not an employee), I'm not really sure if they can make that an official complaint?  If he said something upsetting about his colleague to her husband, that may be a different matter.  It all depends on the exact situation.

If the lady is making a compliant, she must use the official grievence procedure (should be outlined in the handbook).  If the complaint can be upheld for whatever reason, then the company must use the full disciplinary procedure against your husband.  If you go to [url=]www.acas.co.uk[/url], you will get some useful advice.  Their hepline is available to the employees too, so he can make sure everything is fair.  I use them all the time and they are very useful.  If the worst comes to the worst and he gets sacked (very unlikely as it would be very unfair!), he could probably go to tribunal and get a lot of compensation.  ACAS is the best bunch to go to though.
If you need more advice, let me know!

With my HR hat off, it is ridiculous! you really have to watch your back nowadays as there is so much legislation that can stitch you up.

Hope this helps!

One section of the London Insurance Market one year told ALL employees that the work party was considered as an extension to office hours and as such, they were ALL expected to be there!

It then went on to give instructions about (a) what "party attire" should be, (b) how to drink alcohol:rolleyes: (c) how to eat;  (d) how to enjoy themselves and (e) how to take paracetamol once home to ensure prompt arrival at the office the following day...........which happened to be a Saturday :D :D

To contravene any of the above advice would be a disciplinary matter :rolleyes:

One could say that there was no XCS of Christmas cheer at their party that year :D

Margot

It is an unfortunate fact of life that some people get 'merry' with excess achohol and some get 'aggressive' & 'abusive'.  It is the latter that cause the problems.

The company I used to work for had their Christmas party in Soho each year.  I got really fed up with trying to round up drunk youngsters who had gone walk about to get them on the train home, then they threw up on the train.

As a member of senior management I was expected to look after them and get them home safely, believe me it was no party for me.  Infact the last year I was there I threw a sickie, I couldn't face another year of it.

Our Christmas parties were a blast (its been a couple of years since I went as I am always pregnant lol). Boss would arrive with black bags full of toy guns, water pistols etc. Everyone would get very drunk in about half an hour and start firing guns at each other. When they ran out the food would start flying. Such was the nature of the company that no-one ever complained. It was fun and talked about for weeks after. Those that didn't like it didn't go - which was fair enough :)

Thanks everyone for their advice. I'll get an update later. I am shocked they can dictate to someone how to behave in their own time, and how to talk to other people. He wasn't drunk either.

The DWP(DHSS as it was at the time)used to allow office parties actually in the office

Sadly two blokes in one office got into an alcohol fueled fight & both(I think)hwne through a window in the high rise building with fatal effect !!!!

All office parties were banned & alcohol(even a shandy type drink)were permanently banned ! Food only buffets were allowed at Xmas but no music etc

The local bars , pubs , clubs etc bookings increased dramatically after this !

Hi Jennyrose79

Who do you work for? Im an HR Manager in Kent and looking forward to sorting out all the squabbles falling out of the Xmas parties - not!

Caroline

I work for a geophysical company in Cambridge.  I used to be an engineer for them and then decided to take the HR leap of faith!

I intend to be too drunk at my party to know what is going on... its the only night I will make sure I don't have to have my HR hat on!

Hi ChloeH

What was the outcome of this?
Caroline