To refuse to be a witness against colleague??

The company didn't get her drunk. She got herself drunk and then sexually assaulted someone. You don't want yo say anything. You have a duty to say what you witnessed

I think if all she did that you saw was flash her bra (not her boobs) that is a different situation from many. Vulgar? Yes. Stupid? Yes. Sacking offence? No.

She behaved very badly indeed. I was put in mind of Bruno Langley groping two girls in a night club when he was drunk, ending up in court, losing his career.

Your friend should be reprimanded, certainly, so she never does that again. However be gentle with your witnessing, say she appeared to grope someone (if you saw that), and flashed her boobs but no more. I daresay some others will relish it all. I wouldn't enjoy someone else's downfall, especially if it was out of character.

Honestly, booze is poison for some people, they should stay well away from it.
I learned my lesson many years ago, have a low tolerance level. I've also seen others behave appallingly and make utter fools of themselves.

I hope she lives this down and doesn't get sacked. However a man probably would.

Since you intervened in the flashing incident I don't see how you can avoid saying what you saw. The other colleague who intervened with you has probably been asked to comment also. You simply need to state the facts without any comment on things you did not personally see.

Either we say it is unacceptable to flash someone, or it isn’t. You don’t get to have double standards.

If a man flashed me at a workplace event, I’d be furious and making complaints. If a woman flashes a man, it is the exact same.

The double standards on mumsnet are rife though.

The guy that’s complained (because she flashed her boobs at him) is a bit bloody wet, IMO or has had a complete sense of humour failure. It was a flash of her boobs, not a full frontal, and it’s not likely that he felt threatened in the way a woman would with a male flasher.

The one who had his testicles groped, on the other hand, would be fair enough in lodging a complaint.

Actually, I suspect your company may well find themselves on a very sticky wicket on this, remember the PWC issue - https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/22/pwc-sued-by-employee-who-lost-half-his-skull-after-pub-golf-outing

It is absolutely down to you to describe what you saw but no one can force you as your company do not have any legal jurisdiction in the matter to compel you to report.

They’ll have plenty of witnesses, i think it’s fair enough for you to refuse. It’s highly unlikely ti change the outcome based on what you’ve said

Just Because the person she assaulted was male. It doesn’t make it ok.

Snitching would be telling your managers something happened, which was said or witnessed in secrecy or in a confidential situation. This was in public, a complaint has been made and the company are duty bound to follow it up. You are just giving factual evidence, no more, or less. You are not grasping anyone up, but simply providing evidence/information.

Something similar happened to me but it was a best friends boyfriend that groped me. My biggest fear speaking up was that nobody would believe me so it would be a massively shit thing of you not to speak up to what you saw. Thankfully everyone did and it was a massive relief. However this guy went on to be accused of rape and got off with it due to lack of evidence. Say what you see op, male or female it’s the. Victim you should feel for not the perpetrator

I would share what I saw, but not comment on anything I heard second hand. If an man was sexually assaulted, she should be sacked.

I’m not a bloody snitch plus - why can’t the guy she flashed at say what happened

You've said he made the complaint, so he has said what happened. They can’t just believe him, so are investigating.

Wow. What a dreadful attitude.

The "absolutely" in there made it bit more sure...
The company could well sverve any responsibility depending on what was talked about at the time etc.
"Brian! I wrote your report for xx project! On my braaaa" might lend them in trouble, random flash might not.

If you deny having seen anything then you are lying to your employer in the context of a sexual harassment investigation. If you do that, and it comes to light you have lied to protect the perpetrator (which it might eg if they have CCTV footage/ other witnesses), risk them taking disciplinary action against you. Dishonesty offences can and do lead to dismissal for gross misconduct,

I understand that it's a difficult position to be in but you have to tell the truth about what you saw - you don't really have a choice here.

I have been in a not too dissimilar situation.

I tend not to get involved but as it was a work do and a formal complaint has been made, the disciplinary team may ask to talk to you and if that is the case, you need to give an honest, factual answer. But you can add that from your experience this was very unusual behaviour for the lady concerned. That's also factual and honest given post.

If you are not officially approached, you can choose whether or not to stay out of it but understand the affect it will have at work for those that feel aggrieved by her actions.

Employers can be held “vicariously liable” in very particular circumstances. They are ensuring they do not become vicariously liable for the sexual assault of their employees by acting to protect said employees by considering it a serious matter, ensuring a full investigation is carried out, and that the perpetrator will be disciplined. That’s their duty. They won’t be considered vicariously liable because an external venue continued to serve drinks to intoxicated people.

Christ, that's appalling. No wonder so many people get off Scott free for sexual assault if all the witnesses think like you.

All I can say is I hope you never find yourself on the other end of things, OP - having a man grope/flash you but with no one willing to back up your side of things.

You need to tell the facts end off. She behaved inappropriately at a work event but the company maybe need to be more cautious about the amount of free alcohol they give.

I loathe and despise snitches. However there is a difference between snitching and bearing witness to a serious incident. I was once put in a position where I knew about an act of corporate bullying which amounted to gross misconduct. I passed on the information to my boss and then left it to him to investigate. He did, and the offence was so serious it went right to the top officer in the organization. When I told him how I felt he responded that not to speak up would have left me culpable with the person who committed the offence.

You are being placed in a difficult position. I would follow the good advice upthread. Report what you saw in a completely factual way and avoid any kind of opinion or speculation about what happened. For example if you are asked about the reaction of others nearby or of the victim. You cannot know how they felt, whether they were offended, and its not your place to speculate. Keep it professional and as brief as possible.

A free bar in this day and age is asking for trouble. With the workplace being so regulated alcohol should be banned at all functions and premises. But here we are. I suppose in your shoes I'd say what I saw.

“The company got her poleaxed” – well that’s not true is it or otherwise you’d have been drunk too?! The company laid on an event where free drink was provided and some people behaved like idiots!

I also find it distasteful that you seem to be basing your decision on whether to report what is a sexual assault on whether you like your colleague or think that the person is a dickhead.

Yes you should say what you saw - she'll probably be in less trouble if you confirm she only showed her bra, from behind it might have looked like she fully got her boobs out