Sexy Costumes, Politics And Booze At The Office Halloween Party [The Question]

As long as there have been office Halloween parties, there have been pregnant nuns, homemade genitalia, radioactive political costumes and other regrettable ideas that seemed funnier before someone from HR walked into the room.

For years, office Halloween parties were valued as an exercise in camaraderie, spontaneity and teamwork that gave workers a creative outlet to pretend they’re someone else for a night and blow off steam.

Even before the pandemic scrambled the workplace, though, office Halloween parties were becoming something of a corporate zombie, with bosses increasingly wondering whether the fun was worth the legal and personnel headaches.

Now, with hybrid work more common and remote employees in the mix, the old questions have resurfaced, along with some new ones.

• Is it rude not to participate?
• Are political costumes ever OK?
• How sexy or gory is too sexy or gory?
• Is it OK to wear something that pokes fun at your company or profession?
• Is drinking at the office party different from drinking at an ordinary company event?
• And with hybrid work, can an employer reasonably expect remote workers to come in specifically for Halloween festivities?

We’re asking for The Question, Patch’s exclusive etiquette column. Just fill out the survey below. As always, we don’t collect email addresses.

About The Question

The Question is an exclusive Patch column on etiquette, everyday ethics and what to do when the rules aren’t quite as clear as everyone pretends they are — and readers provide the answers. If you have a topic you’d like us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with “The Question” as the subject line.

Catch Up On The Question

• Coffee Shop ‘Laptop Squatters’ Can Overstay Their Welcome
• Take Off Your Shoes, But Don’t Make Guests Bare Their Soles
• Wedding RSVP Cash Gift Prompts Test Etiquette Rules For Guests
• When Grieving, These Words And Deeds Offer Comfort