02/ 29/ 2008
by Maggie Flynn
Inviting your employees out to an occasional happy hour can be a great way to boost morale and unwind at the end of the work day, but it's also a situation with some potential pitfalls. Here are some tips on how to do it right.
Location is key
Certain types of establishments are better than others for holding your happy hour get together. Try to pick a bar that has activities or at least big screen TVs so the sole focus of your get together isn't the alcohol. This is important because the non-drinkers in your office might be more inclined to join if there's an activity being offered, such as trivia. And a good game of darts or foosball will slow people's alcohol consumption to help ensure that no one overdoes it.
Budget it out
Speaking of overdoing it, your employees may be inclined towards imbibing more than usual if they assume that you're paying for every round. Before you send the email naming the time and place, figure out how many drinks you can buy for every employee. While it is a nice gesture to pay for a drink or two, you shouldn't be expected to foot the whole bill. State your intentions in the invitation clearly: "I'll pick up the first two rounds, and then you're on your own."
A tip to keep the cost down: buy a few pitchers of beer for the table. If someone wants a more expensive mixed drink, they can order it at the bar themselves.
Order appetizers
Before you choose the bar, make sure they offer appetizers. Eating slows the effects of alcohol and will help ensure that no one has any embarrassing behavior to live down the next day at work. Many bars and restaurants make discounted food part of their happy hour special, so find out where you can get a good deal. Paying for the food and having your employees pay for their own beverages is another good way to encourage moderate drink consumption.
Invite spouses
If your budget permits, allowing your employees to bring their spouses or significant others is a good idea for a couple of reasons. First, it won't create any resentment when your employee comes home late from work, and second, if the bar atmosphere brings out anybody's wild side, they will be more likely to toe the line if their partner is there to keep an eye on them. You could certainly cut down on the number of rounds you buy if you include more people – buying your employees and their spouses even one drink is a kind gesture that they will appreciate.
Precautions
As the previous tips address, you want to discourage your employees from overdoing it. After all, you don't want them coming to work late and cranky the next day, scouring the break room for aspirin. But despite your best efforts, some employees might drink more than they should. If that's the case, then it's your duty as host and boss to make sure they get home safely without endangering themselves or others.
If a non-drinking employee offers to be the designated driver, take him or her up on the offer, or you could play the role yourself. Remember, it takes about an hour for the effects of each drink to metabolize in a person's system, so if someone drinks two or three beers quickly and wants to leave, encourage them to stay and have some food and water. If you go home before some of your employees, leave the number of a taxi company and tell them to take a taxi home on you if they need to. While this creates a little extra expense for you, it's far better than the consequences of an employee getting into an accident after accepting your invitation out.
This is not to suggest that you need to play babysitter if you invite your employees out to happy hour. Most of them will likely behave as responsible adults. Still, it's in your best interest to take a few precautions so you can rest easy while you celebrate with your employees. Cheers!
