A chance for the company to thank staff for their awesome work throughout the year, to let the team  know how appreciated they are  and for staff and management to have a bit of fun at the same time.

But it’s always timely to remember that there’s a fine line between innocent fun and someone calling HR.

Bearing that in mind, here’s two rock solid tips to bear in mind this Christmas party season.

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Tip one, make sure you go.  Yes, it’s a busy time of year and there is a lot on. But the work Christmas party is an opportunity to bond, not a reason to weasle out unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.

Tip two, if you do go, make sure you don’t go overboard.   The festive Christmas spirit may be flowing, along with the festive wine  and beer, but remember, there is always   “tomorrow” to think of.

Social media means your  one crazy antic away from going viral online and you don’t want that to affect your ongoing employment.

Having said that, there’s no reason to call the fun police just yet.

The trick is often finding the right venue that suits your needs.

Ideally, it should be in a convenient and cater for the number of guests which will be attending and  the activities you may have in mind.

Such activities  may include a shared meal, drinks, speeches, awards or gift giving, party games, team-building activities and dancing.

Cyprus Lakes, nestled in the beautiful wine district of the Hunter Valley, is your venue for midweek Christmas party functions this year.

Boasting championship golf course, bar, restaurant and conference facilities, Cyprus Lakes can accommodate any size  group. 

They have two packages available: the first,  at $59, includes a buffett or three-course sit-down menu, with welcome drink on arrival for groups over 30.

The second package,  at $99, includes the same eating options with an added three-hour beverage package.

A minimum spend of $5000 earns your group a one-bedroom villa overnight accomodation voucher, and a  golf voucher for one, which make great lucky door giveaways.

For bookings ring  02 4993 155 and ask for Michelle.

If you’re planning a Christmas lunch in the Hunter, consider Billabongs Restaurant at East Maitland Bowling Club. The friendly staff can accomodate groups of any size.

Jimmy and his team do all the Christmas trimmings – roast turkey, three-way oysters and seasonal seafood. This year, for the first time there will be a Christmas-themed sushi.

To make a booking  contact   02 4934 5590.