Ask Ash

Dear Ash,

I have been working in my current role for about a year now. The first half of the year was relatively uneventful; however, this all changed at a recent client event. The event was organised to entertain clients and involved the consumption of a large amount of alcohol. Unfortunately, I also consumed a lot of alcohol and ended up kissing one of the senior clients in front of my manager and other colleagues. Needless to say, I have been endlessly ridiculed by colleagues, but I have also had to endure the cold-shoulder treatment from my manager. I am not sure how I can try to regain some form of credibility in the department or whether it would just be best for me to move jobs?

ASH replies:

You will not be the first nor the last to regret your actions while under the influence of alcohol. However, to have had your indiscretions witnessed by your employer has inevitable consequences with regard to your position at work. You should perhaps consider yourself lucky not to have been formally disciplined by your employer for your behaviour. You also seem to have escaped any formal complaints being lodged against you by the clients at the event.

However, you have inevitably lost some respect in the eyes of your manager and perhaps even your other colleagues. No doubt your actions would have caused extreme embarrassment as, although it was a social occasion, you were still technically working. You have to bear in mind that these social events are geared towards the clients and not the employees of the firm, and accordingly you should always ensure a sense of professionalism at such events.

I would suggest you request a meeting with your manager and essentially express your regret at your actions and explain that it was out of character and will not happen again. Also offer to contact the client in question in order to formally apologise to him. It may take a long time for you to build up a relationship of trust with your manager again, but it can be done if you are willing to try. Try to ensure that you go the extra mile at work for a while, by for example putting in extra effort to your work and being more helpful towards your manager. Also do not be afraid to go along to future client events in order to demonstrate that you can act professionally with clients.

Trying to move jobs in the current volatile jobs market is probably not a great idea and may be more unpalatable than your continuing to eat humble pie!

• “Ash” is a solicitor who is willing to answer work-related queries from solicitors and trainees, which can be put to her via the editor: peter@connect communications.co.uk, or mail to Studio 2001, Mile End, Paisley PA1 1JS. Confidence will be respected and any advice published will be anonymised.