Does anyone get fired on “The Office”…
OK, I admit, I don’t watch every episode of “The Office“. But in the few I’ve seen there is hardly any behavior that will get you canned in that fictitious office.
Sex, sexual harassment — that’s all okay.
I remember many years ago, when I worked for a popular fashion publication, there was an off-the-wall workplace episode that would have blown your mind.
The holiday party for this particular fancy pants publication was held at Studio 54. Yes, Studio 54! That lavish disco that was popular in the late 1970s and made a comeback many years later when I was sporting my fake ID.
Well, the party was going to be the event of the season and I found just the right outfit to make my appearance. So many of us got drunk, I admit it. But there was one story from the night that went down in fashion folklore.
A lower-level photographer that was trying hard to make a name for himself at this publication showed up at the gala and got hammered. He was dancing with a bunch of anorexic models and supposedly, according to eyewitness accounts, he had sex with one of them right on the dance floor.
I missed this particular event that night because I got there too late, but everyone was talking about it the next day.
The guy ended up getting fired, or being encouraged to leave the company. Either way, he was no where to be found after the party.
This is an example of an office party gone horrifically bad. Well, I guess it was probably a great night for him…until he came to work the next day I suppose.
Lesson learned: don’t drink too much and don’t get too horny at your company party.
Save it for after hours, when there aren’t any co-workers or managers around. Seems pretty obvious. Maybe. But alas, too many people lose it that one night.
Check out my column this Monday on MSNBC.com.
Do you think Steve Carrell’s “The Office” character Michael, could get away with these kind of office party faux pas?
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Enjoyable post. In today’s litigious nature, it’s amazing “Michael” hasn’t had more lawsuits. But then that’s television. That said, “Michael” tends to be an equal opportunity offender, harassing virtually everyone in the office, so maybe the employer could argue that he’s not a bigot — just an idiot.
I discussed holiday parties over at my blog and touched on issues more than just sexual harassment.
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Loved your comments on your blog..but no alcohol at party?! Come on, don’t advise employers to cut off the booze. I don’t know about you guys, but a little bit of the bubbly can make the difference between a great party and a I’m-going-to-stab-myself-with-a-sharp-pencil party.
No?
December 4th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
My employer won’t hold an office party. They claim it would not be fair to have a party at a time outside of a work shift when some may not be able to attend. They say the same to nix an off-site picnic at an area park. They do provide a free “holiday feast” in the cafeteria, and a free “picnic” lunch on-site in the summer, but it’s not the same. Don’t employers realize that our families (for those of us who have them) are importatnt to our work success? Don’t they realize that many of us want our families to be part of our extended work “family” and that our families want to know the people we work with?
As to The Office, I think it’s hillarious because it’s so over the top. I think I watch from episode to episode just because I’m waiting for Michael to get canned, or sued, or both! Or to see Dwight arrested (or institutionalized). And, of course, there’s the whole Jim-Pam thing. The reason why it is so appealing is that there are little bits of each of those characters in every office.
I most often catch it online–you can catch up on the first two seasons via Netflix online viewing option, or the most recent episodes at the network site.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Eve - Fair enough on the booze comment. The problem is those that don’t know when to stop. If people showed a little bit more restraint, then getting rid of booze wouldn’t even be up for discussion.
Its true for holiday parties as the rest of life — its the one spoil-sport who ruins it for the rest of us.