Hangovers happen after Christmas parties – and sometimes employers have to deal with them too; in particular, it’s not uncommon for an employer to have to take disciplinary action following an office social function because a member of staff crossed the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

In this context, it’s relevant to note that it is now well-established that the Christmas party is effectively an extension of the workplace, meaning that both the usual obligations apply. Specifically, an employee who misbehaves at the Christmas party is susceptible to disciplinary action.  Most parties proceed without incident but it’s occasionally necessary to take steps where conduct goes too far.

Dealing with this doesn’t usually cause major problems for employers – even