Happy Hour Makes Good Business Sense

It feels good to be back in the office, collaborating with peers we both like and respect. Having a few solid work friends offers you a feeling of connectedness, a boost in daily productivity and helps the day go by faster. Sharing a healthy rapport also benefits the business because happy customers are directly related to happy employees. You may notice your team is replacing Zoom happy hours with in-person gatherings. When you’re invited to cocktails with colleagues, keep these happy hour etiquette tips top of mind.

Happy Hour Etiquette Tips

Get To Know Your Peers

Some people are still working remotely, and others are new and haven’t had the opportunity to spend any length of time together. An after-work happy hour presents an opportunity to strengthen a relationship with someone you know and to introduce yourself to those you haven’t met or don’t often see. Happy hour is often called “mandatory fun” because you may not initially want to attend a function after work. Consider viewing the investment of time as a way to deepen bonds with your peers.

Your Choice To Drink

While the premise of going to happy hour is to unwind after work, it could also mean laughing, relaxing and good conversation. If you don’t want to indulge in a cocktail, order a nonalcoholic beverage, and skip the urge to announce it to the group or make excuses. No explanation necessary. If you are drinking, don’t forget to chase the drink down with food. Statistics show when you drink on an empty stomach, alcohol is absorbed into your body faster than if you were drinking on a full stomach. Don’t take any chances of embarrassing yourself in front of your boss.

Select Your Drink Carefully

If you plan to have a few drinks throughout the night, pace yourself and don’t choose a strong drink such as a hurricane or straight shots of tequila or whisky. While the right beverage can relax you after a long day, avoid multiple rounds of the strongest drink in the house. Over imbibing is a sign of poor judgment as well as a red flag to your peers, employer and clients.

Dress for the Occasion

An office happy hour means you are still in business mode, so dress accordingly. Feel free to loosen your tie or roll up your sleeves, but don’t change into flip-flops and a pair of your worst cargo shorts. “Business casual” is the minimum dress code, unless otherwise stated when you attend an office function. A pair of classic jeans with a great blazer or blouse with heels is another way to dress comfortably and still look polished.

Avoid Office Gossip

Don’t talk shop or discuss anything controversial at happy hour. The old adage, “Loose lips sink ships” is right on target. Find conversation topics that are engaging and interesting but benign. For example:

• Where did you grow up?
• Is this your first job in this industry?
• Where will you be traveling over the holidays?
• Have you seen the new Top Gun movie?

Tone Down Your Enthusiasm

The office happy hour is not the platform to show off your over-the-top dance moves or roll out your new comedy act. Save your inner Beyonce moves for another time.

Your Boss Is Watching

Attending the office happy hour is also a good way to get to know your boss on a different level. Use it as an opportunity to make a positive impression without appearing artificial. Ask about their interests, their kids’ sports, favorite movies (be diplomatic – don’t make it weird!) and what vacations they have been on since the hiatus.

While it’s important to spend some time in conversation with them, don’t monopolize all of their time. Be aware of your supervisor taking note of your behavior. Even if they offer to buy you an unending number of drinks, they are still counting. The research is called “Imbibing Idiot Bias,” and the premise is that even when people hold an alcoholic beverage, they are perceived as less intelligent than those who do not. Moderation is key to a successful happy hour!

I was recently quoted on Fox Business on the topic of happy hour etiquette tips.

Pace yourself so you don’t need to take the subway back to your house.

For more information about working with Diane, America’s “Go to” social and professional (manners) skills authority, please visit The Protocol School of Texas. 

For more happy hour etiquette tips, you may also like Zoom Cocktail Party Etiquette. See what Diane is up to by following her on Instagram and Facebook. Find etiquette inspiration on her Pinterest account and keep up with her latest tweets. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, refer to her posts on Inc. and HuffPost.