A BOSS has banned workers from holding a Christmas party as a way of preventing any festive hanky panky.

Chris Hamer, managing director of Whitefield advertising firm ADZ Media, says he would prefer an office trip to a museum instead.

ADZ's team of 16 employees had already organised a meal and drinks followed by a party at the city centre's swanky Radisson Edwardian hotel.

But Chris is now refusing to fund a works "do" because of reports which suggest office parties can lead to harassment, discrimination and unfair dismissal claims against employers.

Mr Hamer, 50, said: "My staff are being dead miserable about it, but I think a Christmas party would be a risk.

"We have an even number of boys and girls in their twenties, and if you add in lots of booze and hotel rooms, the worst could happen. I don't want them to think I don't trust them, but I don't want to be responsible for a festive romp.

"If people get together, it could cause problems in the workplace because they can't face each other; it's a small office and that would be really awkward.

Banned

"Or worse, if they became inseparable, they wouldn't get any work done and I could get a husband coming after me."

This Christmas will be the first time in ADZ's eight-year history that the company has not had a festive bash. Mr Hamer, from Ramsbottom, adds: "If they want to organise their own do, or if we go to an art exhibition or a museum, that would be fine."

Research by Manchester-based employment consultancy Peninsula - which questioned 852 employers about their plans for the festive season - found that 82 per cent of the bosses would ban parties.

Of those, 84 per cent said they'd had complaints from staff in the past because of previous incidents. A similar number said relationships and affairs were a regular feature at parties and created tension lasting weeks.

Almost 80 per cent said they were worried about the threat of tribunal claims from disgruntled staff over incidents, while 78 per cent said the costs of organising a party were too high.

Seventy-five per cent admitted that they were cancelling celebrations for fear of offending non-Christian staff.

Peninsula's managing director, Peter Done, said: "Bosses want to reward their staff, but they are proceeding with caution due to the threat of litigation."

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