HERE’S a warning about the seasonal dangers, which can leave air cargo managers with a nasty financial hangover –long after the decorations have been taken down.
The festive period poses a number of risks, ranging from health and safety issues to selective or group amnesia.
According to research, with their mix of drink, high spirits and merriment, Xmas parties are the number one source of potential problems for many air cargo businesses.
So, to comply with [almost] universal workplace legislation, businesses are advised to:
• Avoid pressurising staff to attend. Some may not want to due to faith, abstinence from drink, or an embarrassing recollection of last year’s debacle;
• Let staff know in advance what standards of behaviour are expected – maniacal, naked office desktop dancing is usually frowned upon;
• Watch out for drug use. It is probably an offence for an employer to permit or ignore drug abuse, though it may be difficult to identify what it is about your staff that is different from the normal;
• Make it clear to staff that they are expected to turn up for work the following day, hangover or not. Research con-firms that senior air cargo managers are more likely than junior staff to call in sick the day after a party;
• Don’t let the tipple flow too freely. Saucy gifts and games lead to a tribunal, a divorce or unscheduled pregnancies;
• Managers should act professionally when partying with staff and not try anything they wouldn’t usually do in the office, such as garotting them.
In truth, the trouble-free air cargo office party is probably enjoyed alone, in a darkened room, reading ICAO’s latest hazardous cargo regulations.
