The recently-minted partner called out to a few young grads from the edge of the Christmas boat, it has been reported. Sporting a messy moustache left over from Movember, he pulled beers from the tray for his reluctant interlocutors.

“How about the French? A company over there had to pay damages to a consultant because he wouldn’t join in the fun! He was complaining about a few drinks and some blokes acting on their impulses. Apparently, they fired him but I bet he forced himself out. So now companies won’t organise Christmas parties over there in case they get sued! Can you believe it?”

“This would never happen in Australia. Here everyone respects the happy folks over at HR. Cause they’ve got our backs! No, over here we know the fun and the work go hand in hand. That’s why we picked you here at a drinks event. Especially you, Cara!”

“I heard a rumour that after the court decision, the consultants at the company went on strike like it was Bastille Day! Consultants. Striking? What are they going to do next?”

“Hey, you! Mate! Yeah you, sorry I forgot your name, with the pinstriped shirt. Are you having fun? Or are you going to sue us too? Ha, ha.”

He handed out another round of beers from the tray.

It was reported that, long after the grads had walked away, he continued drinking with his arm resting against the railing, looking forlorn into the waves. He could be heard muttering to himself.

“And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past… yeah, I love Christmas parties.”

Author: Daniel Zola (pseudonym) Editor: Dana Heriot