Legal specialists are warning company bosses not to get over refreshed at their annual Christmas bash, as it may result in them offering pay rises which they may regret in the cold light of day.

The caution comes in the wake of a recent case whereby an employee claimed for constructive dismissal as the pay rise he was offered at the end of a company’s annual dinner-dance failed to materialise.

The warning comes from Russell Brown, an employment solicitor at Manchester based legal firm, Glaisyers. Although an Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) ruled that the conversation between the employee and his manager did not amount to an enforceable promise to increase pay, Brown believes bosses must still be on their guard.

“In this particular case the EAT held the original promise was not contractually enforceable, and was part of a conversation that took part within the context of a social event. There is also the fact that the individual did receive a pay rise of over£10,000, which though wasn’t the amount promised, did go someway towards softening the EAT’s view towards the case.

The office Christmas party is a potential banana skin for company bosses and have in recent years been the source of a large number of sexual discrimination claims. This is yet another danger that bosses need to be aware of and employers should not only be on their best behaviour, but on their guard.”