What Not to Wear: Inappropriate Behaviours at the Office Christmas Party

What are you wearing to your office Christmas party this year?

Let us share with you 5 outfits that we wouldn’t recommend … 

Calling Out Bad Behaviour

With the Christmas party season in full swing – and December 22nd traditionally the peak for festive gatherings – inappropriate behaviours are on the rise.

To highlight this issue, we’ve created a range of costumes that are effectively ‘normal’ dress and could easily be worn to an office Christmas party – underlining the prevalence of these behaviours, which can occur on a daily basis.

Our costumes follow research suggesting that 54% of people have witnessed inappropriate behaviours happening to others. Of these, only 30% said they’d be willing to verbally intervene, and just 13% said they’d be willing to physically intervene.

The Office Christmas Party And Beyond

With the research also looking at where these incidents were most likely to happen, 60% highlighted they’d most expect it ‘in bars, pubs, clubs, etc’. And if these aren’t the venue of your office Christmas party, they’re almost certainly somewhere you might end up afterwards to continue the festivities after your boss has gone home. 

Additionally, 40% of respondents shared that they would most expect to encounter inappropriate behaviours ‘on public transport’, whilst 39% thought ‘walking down the street’ was where they were most likely to be affected. Both places will be packed with drunken revellers over the next few days and are common thoroughfares to reach any seasonal event. 

What Not To Wear To Your Office Christmas Party

Respondents to the research were also asked about the most common behaviours they’ve witnessed. Their answers formed the basis of our costumes, which are designed to highlight the everyday occurrence of such behaviours – and the need to understand how certain behaviours can offend and intimidate.

Unwanted physical contact, indicated in 65% of responses, serves as the inspiration for ‘The Groper' costume, urging individuals to keep their hands to themselves. Invading personal space, cited in 64% of answers, forms the essence of the 'Space Invader' costume, emphasising the importance of understanding boundaries. 

Inappropriate comments, accounting for 56% of replies, inspired the 'Inappropriate Commenter' costume, highlighting the distinction between humour and impropriety. Shouting, reported by 54%, shapes the 'Shouter' costume, discouraging repeated yelling that may frighten others.

Additionally, swearing, indicated in 41% of responses, defines the 'Swearer' costume, cautioning against aggressive and intimidating language during conversations. These statistics highlight prevalent behaviours that often go unchecked, prompting the need for awareness and respectful conduct in social settings.

Exposing Gender-Based Harassment

With research from UN Women showing that 97% of women aged 18-24 have been sexually harassed, our campaign sheds light on gender-based harassment. These 'costumes' are a way of exposing the prevalent but often subtle harassment women and minority genders endure. 

In light of this, we also created a series of Christmas cards that were designed to underline the everyday experiences and fears of women. The limited-edition range, which is primarily centred on raising awareness, is also available to buy – with the proceeds from any sales going to White Ribbon, the UK’s leading charity seeking to end men’s violence against women.

Stay Alert This Office Christmas Party Season

Every day, people are faced with anti-social behaviours that make them uncomfortable and intimidated. Traditionally, we see a spike in these types of behaviours around the office Christmas party season, with the lively atmosphere encouraging certain individuals to act inappropriately, often under the influence of alcohol. 

These behaviours are undertaken by ‘normal’ people, wearing ‘normal’ clothing, which is why we have led this costume initiative seeking to highlight that people capable of such behaviour are not always plain to see.

For more information on the Christmas card range, please visit https://www.imabi.com/christmascards/ 
Or why not check out our previous costume-led campaign for Halloween, featuring further costumes ‘The Wolf Whistler’ and ‘The Starer’.