For employers:

• Remind employees of the ground rules.

Before the party, say something like:

“We are looking forward to the party on Friday night. As a reminder, attending the party is purely voluntary, but if you do attend, and we hope you will, this is a reminder that all of our workplace policies, including those relating to proper conduct, alcohol moderation and good judgment apply. While we will be serving alcoholic beverages, we will have plenty of other alternatives and expect that anyone who is driving will drink responsibly, if at all.”

• Encourage guests.

Employees are less likely to view the party as a chance to hook up with the wild guy in accounting if they bring dates. However, this isn’t a guaranteed insurance policy. I’ve seen plenty of “dates” act as inappropriately as the guy from accounting.

• Don’t let open bar equal unlimited bar.

Limit the number of bars that are open and hire trusted bartenders to work them. Avoid having managers and employees serve drinks, or having the bar open for guests to serve themselves. Have a point person for the bartender to communicate with if the bartender observes anyone drinking too much.

Some hosts at larger events give out two “drink” tickets to each guest in an effort to limit the drinking. Some employees are masters at persuading non-drinking guests or those leaving early to give up their tickets, so the ticket rule isn’t a sure thing, but it can set up the expectation of no more than two drinks per guest.

• Limit the party hours.

A nighttime holiday office party should ideally be held from 7 or 8 to around 10 p.m. Two or three hours is plenty of time. Too much time, too much can happen.

If you end the party too early, you risk the “after party,” which usually involves all the single people at the party getting together at a bar and the highest ranking employee charging and expensing it. Ending at 10 p.m. is ideally late enough to truly end it.

• Offer free rides home.

While Virginia employers generally are not liable for accidents that may occur as a result of drunken employees driving home, employers should consider more than their pure liability, including the safety of the guests. Consider promoting the option of a free ride home.

• The party should be a little boring.

Many companies want their office parties to be the rockin’ hit of the year, but think about the fun you’ll be having talking to a lawyer in January about a harassment claim caused by the rockin’ party of the year.

It’s not worth it. Just have good food, a nice location, some free drinks, a few giveaways or raffles, good conversation and then end it.

• Consider office party alternatives.

In lieu of a cocktail party, consider a catered lunch on a Friday and a free half-day of vacation. Or, tell employees that in lieu of the office party, they can take a half-day off by the end of the year as a gift from the company. Employees love time off.

Another alternative is to donate time as a company to a charitable organization and spend that time team-building and celebrating the holidays.

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For employees:

• No twerking on the dance floor.

It’s a toxic combination — co-workers, bosses, lots of drinking, cellphones, instant uploading to social media and a dance floor. Just don’t.

• Don’t be too sexy for the office party.

Remember my workplace rule: If you can see up it, down it or through it — don’t wear it.

• Control yourself.

Co-workers and managers have long memories. How you act at the office party can haunt you throughout your career. Use common sense. Don’t get drunk, hit on co-workers or talk about inappropriate things.

• Don’t go there with co-workers.

No matter how sexy Sally looks, this is not the time to start an office romance. My month of January is usually spent investigating harassment complaints resulting from office parties — don’t be the one I’m investigating. It’s not worth it.

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Employers and workers need to realize that the same rules and laws that apply to the workplace also apply to the after-hours office holiday party.

The annual holiday party is a great chance to meet up with co-workers and have conversations with people you might not know too well. However, if it is the highlight of your holiday season, one of these suggested tips has surely been violated.