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Tis our Christmas Eve special — and we’re diving into the stuff HR teams never forget… even when they try.

Siobhán shares anonymised “HR nightmares at Christmas” stories that range from jaw-dropping (a motorboating incident with a very questionable defence) to the painfully familiar (people passed out in toilets, tears in the loo, and the post-party investigations nobody wants).

We also get into the messy reality of workplace hookups, the risks around power dynamics and consent, what happens when partners are invited, and why “what happens at the Christmas party” very often doesn’t stay there.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of sexual harassment/misconduct scenarios, alcohol, and workplace investigations.

Got a story or a view? Email letstalk@whynotwhatif.com
— we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.

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HR gets labelled “the police” at Christmas parties… and somehow also “the fun sponges”.

In this episode, Andy and Siobhán talk about the reality of attending work socials when you’re the person everyone assumes will step in, calm things down, and clean up the aftermath — even though HR aren’t there to break up fights, and definitely shouldn’t be expected to put themselves in harm’s way.

We get into the awkward moments (“Careful what you say… HR’s here”), the pressure of holding company confidences when everyone’s had a few, and why some HR pros choose to leave early… or skip the whole thing entirely.

Plus: the different “tiers” of Christmas dos, why HR often prefer lunches, and a film recommendation that flips the “fun sponge” stereotype on its head.

Got a story or a view? Email letstalk@whynotwhatif.com
— we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.

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It’s the first of our three-part Christmas mini-series — and we’re starting with the one everyone thinks they already knows: how to survive the work Christmas party.

Andy and Siobhán share a “top 10 (plus a few)” set of common-sense rules for employees (and partners) that keeps the night fun… without it turning into a disciplinary, a PR disaster, or a proper horror story. We cover why a Christmas party still counts as a work event, the risks that come with booze (including the open bar Olympics), why “dancing on tables” can have real-world consequences, and the modern minefield of phones, photos, and sharing things that should never leave the room.

There’s also a brutally practical section on getting home safely (don’t “rely on vibes”), plus a few tales that preview what’s coming in our final Christmas Eve episode: anonymous stories of Christmas parties that went wildly off-piste.

Got a story or a view? Email letstalk@whynotwhatif.com
— we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.