Jaw-dropping moment brutally honest Sharp & Carter CEO gives staff a pre-Christmas party pep talk about doing drugs and sleeping with their co-workers – leaving them stunned
An Australian executive has shocked staff with a candid confession about drugs as he laid down the law on the workplace Christmas party.
Sharp & Carter founder and partner Stephen Carter also shared candid advice for those looking to cheat during a company speech outlining the do’s and don’ts for the upcoming festive celebration.
He stood by his comments on Tuesday evening, but told Daily Mail Australia the short clip leaked online did not capture the full message he wanted to share.
The very honest opening line of his 15-minute speech left the 203 staff in the room and in interstate offices on the Zoom video call stunned.
“At the Christmas party…” Mr. Carter began.
‘I’m not prudish. I take medication myself. I just don’t do it at work events.’
‘Because then things really get out of hand.’
The recruitment company founder reiterated the company’s zero-tolerance policy on drugs.
Founder, partner and CEO of recruitment firm Sharp & Carter Stephen Carter (pictured) wowed staff on Thursday with his speech on the do’s and don’ts at the upcoming staff Christmas celebration
Mr Carter’s pre-Christmas pep talk stunned staff with his candid admissions and frank advice
“If you do drugs at the Christmas party, you will be fired,” Carter warned.
“It’s a very strong rule.”
Mr Carter’s comments prompted giggles from the employee who filmed the address.
His words of wisdom did not stop there.
Mr Carter also offered advice to those with partners who were looking for a colleague at the party.
“If you want to cheat on your partner, I would recommend that 2024 has been a stark reminder that it’s probably not wise to cheat on your partner with someone at work,” Mr Carter said, prompting more laughter from staff.
“If you’re going to cheat on your partner and if you have to do that, don’t do it with someone at work… that’s where it becomes really problematic, as we’ve seen.”
Mr Carter has been educating staff on Christmas party expectations for the past seven years.
“The clip circulating online is just a composite 20-second clip from a much longer 15-minute speech I gave, and it really doesn’t capture the full message I wanted to share,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“My purpose in that speech was simple: to encourage everyone to make good choices at Christmas that align with our values and not to do anything that could harm themselves or others or be career-limiting.”
“This comes directly from our culture of caring and caring for each other.”
Sharp & Carter Stephen Carter (photo) amazed the staff about the do’s and don’ts during the upcoming staff Christmas celebration
He admitted that he would have chosen his words more carefully if he thought the address would leak.
“But as for the content, I wasn’t exposed for sexually harassing dozens of employees, or being caught in a compromising position, or passed out in a ditch. The intention is clearly to take care of my people so they don’t. harm to self and others,” Carter told the newspaper Herald Sun.
He said he expects professionalism from the party’s staff.
“The law does not regard Christmas parties as any different from the workplace and the same professional conduct applies,” he said
‘With 203 people we are representative of society, and that does happen in society, people use drugs, people cheat on their partners and I just try to prevent that.
‘I don’t feel like cleaning up their mess afterwards. I’m trying to get ahead of it.’
Mr Carter said he has no “philosophical objection to drugs” but that they should never be taken at work.
‘But the workplace is not the place for them. It has to do with friends in a social setting.’
Mr Carter said in the video: ‘I’m not a prude. I take medication myself. I just don’t do it at work events’ (stock image)
“As far as I’m concerned, go do drugs tomorrow, but don’t do it at the Christmas party or at work.”
Mr. Carter founded Sharp & Carter in 2009.
“He wanted to build a company that aligned with his values of respect, caring, generosity and treating everyone he meets well,” his profile on the company’s website reads.
“He has always loved recruitment as it allows him to have a positive impact on people’s professional lives, and he has made many lifelong friends along the way.”