An Australian CEO has shocked his staff with a candid admission about drugs as he lays down the law on the Christmas party at work.
Sharp & Carter founder and partner Stephen Carter also shared some candid advice for those looking to cheat during a company speech outlining the do’s and don’ts for the upcoming holiday celebration.
He stood by his comments on Tuesday night, but told Daily Mail Australia that the short clip leaked online does not reflect the full message he wanted to share.
The very honest opening line of his 15-minute speech stunned the 203 employees in the room and across the interstate offices on the Zoom video call.
“At the Christmas party…” Mr. Carter began.
‘I’m not a prude. I take drugs myself. I just don’t do it at work events.’
“Because that’s when things get out of control.”
The recruiting firm’s founder reiterated the company’s zero-tolerance policy on drugs.
Recruitment firm Sharp & Carter founder, partner and chief executive Stephen Carter (pictured) surprised staff with his speech on Thursday about the dos and don’ts of the upcoming staff Christmas celebration.
Mr Carter’s pre-Christmas pep talk surprised staff with his heartfelt confessions and frank advice.
“If you do drugs at the Christmas party, you’ll get fired,” Mr. Carter warned.
“It’s a really strong rule.”
Mr. Carter’s comments drew laughter from the employee who filmed the speech.
His wise words did not end there.
Carter also offered advice to those with a partner looking to connect with a coworker at the party.
“If you want to cheat on your partner, I would recommend that 2024 has been a harsh reminder that it’s probably not wise to cheat on your partner with someone at work,” Carter said, prompting more laughter from the staff.
“If you’re going to cheat on your partner and you have to, just don’t do it with someone at work… it gets really problematic, as we’ve seen.”
Mr. Carter has informed staff about Christmas party expectations for the past seven years.
“The snippet circulating online is just a 20-second curated clip of a much longer 15-minute speech I gave, and doesn’t really reflect the full message I wanted to share,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“My goal in that speech was simple: encourage everyone to make good decisions at the Christmas party that align with our values and avoid doing anything that could harm themselves, others, or limit their career.”
“This comes directly from our culture of caring and taking care of each other.”
Sharp & Carter Stephen Carter (pictured) surprised staff on the dos and don’ts of the upcoming staff Christmas celebration.
He admitted that he would have chosen his words a little more carefully if he thought the address would leak.
“But as for the content, I have not been exposed for sexually harassing dozens of employees, nor have I been caught in a compromising position or passed out in a ditch, the intention is obviously to take care of and take care of my people so that they do not do it.” harm to themselves and others,” Mr. Carter told the Herald of the sun.
He said he expects professionalism from party staff.
“The law does not consider Christmas parties to be different from the workplace and the same professional behaviors apply,” he said.
“With 203 people, we are representative of society, and in society that happens, people take drugs, cheat on their partner and I’m just trying to get ahead of that.”
‘I don’t want to clean up his mess afterwards. I’m trying to get ahead of myself.’
Carter said he has no “philosophical objection to drugs” but that they should never be used at work.
‘But the workplace is not the place for them. It has to do with friends in a social setting.
Carter said in the video: “I’m not a prude.” I take drugs myself. I just don’t do it at work events’ (file image)
“For all I care, go take drugs tomorrow, but don’t do it at the Christmas party or at work.”
Carter founded Sharp & Carter in 2009.
“He set out to build a business that aligned with his values of respect, caring, generosity and treating everyone he meets well,” his profile on the company website states.
“She has always loved contracting because it allows her to have a positive impact on people’s professional lives and she has gained many lifelong friends along the way.”