The Christmas party offers pitfalls and opportunities, research says

The web chart firm says footage from office bashes posted on video share websites tripled in 2006 to 150,000.

Clips included a woman complaining about her boss, who, unknown to her, was standing directly behind.

Another seasonal report says the Christmas party circuit is good for networking and career development.

Business coach John McKee says that the festive party circuit is perfect for ingratiating yourself with workplace superiors.

Be a 'stand out'

When the top brass appear, he says the extra effort expended on sucking up to the top man or woman could pay off in terms of promotion in the following year.

And adopting a tone of matey familiarity with the object of your schmoozing can only help the scheming to succeed, he advises.

HAVE YOUR SAY It is never a good idea to drink more or less than your boss

Julie P, United States



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"Appearing at ease during a time when others are feeling anxious or uncomfortable will make you look more like a 'natural leader', thus making yourself a stand out," he advises for those intent on shameless ladder-climbing.

Gala Casinos has looked into the phenomenon at other firms and published a report that found a third of workers were so drunk at the annual office shindig they did not remember what they did.

And an investigation by supermarket chain Somerfield found only a third of UK workers are now given a completely free night at their annual festive bash.