The Christmas party season should be a time for joy and celebration — but for HR teams, it’s often the exact opposite. Misconduct, blurred boundaries, alcohol, drugs, safety concerns, dignity-at-work issues, employer liability… every December, HR braces for what can become the messiest time of the year.

In this episode, Dave and Mary are joined by Adrian Twomey, Employment Law Expert & Partner at Jacob & Twomey Solicitors, to unpack the real risks, legal responsibilities, and unexpected behaviours that regularly turn a festive night out into a January HR nightmare.

Together, they explore what employers are actually liable for, whether pre-party reminder emails help, why managers play a pivotal role, and if Christmas parties are – controversially -past their sell-by date entirely.

Guests

Adrian Twomey – Employment Law Expert & Partner, Jacob & Twomey Solicitors

Topics include:

• Employer Liability: Are Christmas parties an extension of the workplace?


• Real Case Law Examples – harassment, injuries & blurred boundaries


• Alcohol, Drugs & Lowered Inhibitions: The behaviour shift HR must prepare for


• Why pre-party “behave yourselves” emails may backfire


• Managing Complaints: What to do first thing Monday morning


• The role of managers in preventing party-night disasters


• Social Media, Privacy & Reputation Risks


• Should Christmas Parties Be Cancelled Altogether?


• Alternatives to the traditional boozy night out


• Key actions HR should take now to protect employees and the organisation

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Get in touch

If you’re not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have any suggestions for future episodes, or if you’d like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at dcorkery@insighthr.ie or connect with him on LinkedIn.

About The HR Room Podcast

The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today.

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