The office Christmas party is one of the  highlights of the professional social calendar and a staple of the festive  season.

But it seems this annual office blowout can  be as daunting as it is fun for Britons, with over half confessing they avoid  the festivities completely for fear of committing a faux pas in front of their  colleagues.

Small talk trepidation and dance floor dread  means many of us will shun the champagne for the sofa in a bid to avoid festive  fun altogether, with women more likely to stay away than men.

(DON’T hit the bar with a vengeance: No one wants to be the casualty everyone is  talking about (and sniggering at) the next day)

A new survey has revealed that more than one  in five (22 per cent) of office workers admitted to their very own Bridget Jones  moment after misreading the dress code during the party season.

Drinking too much is the biggest fear among a  fifth surveyed, with alcohol-fuelled embarrassment a particular panic for those  in the North West (27 per cent) and London (28 per cent).

A not-so-subtle one in ten admit to having  called in sick following the work Christmas party with Londoners being the most  likely to pull a ‘sicky’ (22 per cent) compared to just 5 per cent of those  angels in the South West.

Making inappropriate remarks makes nearly one  in five nervous (17 per cent), while mishaps under the mistletoe puts the fear  into one in seven (14 per cent), and one in ten admit to worrying about setting  tongues wagging with dubious dance moves.

(DON’T let bonhomie turn into sleaze and keep goodnight kisses innocent)

However this year a firm set of ‘Dos’  and  ‘Don’ts’ is available for the less socially skilled amongst us to  guide  professionals effortlessly through the networking nightmare that  can ensue when  career, colleagues, alcohol and bad music are mixed.

The guide has been written by Debrett’s the  authority on modern manners and etiquette, and includes advice on maximizing  networking opportunities and top tips on what to avoid such as letting ‘bonhomie  turn into sleaze and keep goodnight kisses innocent.

Jo Bryant, etiquette advisor for  Debrett’s,  said: ‘Although festive celebrations can seem intimidating,  the office party is  the perfect place to impress.

‘There is the opportunity to talk to those  hard-to-reach people, as well as  socialise with colleagues outside of the  confines of the office.

‘Join in the camaraderie and indulge in the  Christmas spirit, but know when to  draw the line. It is important to maintain  your professional gloss at  all times.’

(DO work the room: Keep conversation topics light and cheerful and be democratic  in your mixing)

And there you have it, folks! Happy holidays!

[via Daily Mail]