It’s the season for office Christmas parties, and while it’s a time of fun and celebration, for more than half of Australians, it has led to behavior that they’d rather forget.

A recent national Telstra survey found that more than 2 in 3 Australians aged under 35 had texted or called their ex after going out and drinking too much. And after drinking, 1 in 5 Australians aged under 25 have kissed someone they shouldn’t have only to have the photo posted online.

When behavior turns bad at the office Christmas party, it may not only harm your relationships, but also your reputation at work. From taking a photo of the boss and posting it online (done by 18% of young workers) to taking silly photos in the bosses chair or office (15% of young workers), these behaviours are referred to as CLM’s or Career Limiting Moves.

So to ensure you enjoy the Christmas party and avoid the regrets (not to mention the unwanted Facebook postings), the Christmas Party Elves at Telstra have come up with these tips for us all to consider:

• DO steer clear of excessive alcohol. Drink water and limit alcoholic beverages to help make sure you don’t do things you regret
• DO keep a good grip on your mobile. More than a third of respondents admitted to dropping their mobile while drinking, and most phones don’t perform too well after taking a dip in the punch bowl.
• DON’T text your boss to give them feedback or resign like 12 per cent of respondents – or take an inappropriate photo in your boss’s chair! The old “it seemed like a good idea at the time” just won’t wash on Monday morning.
• DON’T text your ex to tell them you love them – best to do this when you’re sober and don’t regret it in the morning!
• REMEMBER: everyone caries a mobile, every mobile has a camera, and every photo may end up on the internet forever. There, you’ve been warned…

What have you done at your Christmas party, work or social, that’s ended in disaster?