Everyone loves the office holiday party – except the lawyers. At this time of year, employees turn saccharine and sentimental and the average boss suffers an attack of soft-heartedness, but the lawyers? They act like Cassandra crossed with Scrooge, making dire predictions about the litigation risks of everything from booze at the office party to the Christmas Muzak in the lift. If it were up to them, they would ban the “C” word altogether – on the grounds that using the “H” word – holiday – generates fewer lawsuits.

’Tis the season for employment lawyers to bombard their clients with advice on how to avoid a seasonal lawsuit claiming sexual harassment, religious discrimination or worse – such as being held liable for the damage caused by a drunken employee who crashes the car on the way home from the corporate revelry.