Eagle Eye Contents — Spring 2003

The Employer Hosts A Party

The holiday season has passed and everybody enjoyed the company party. But summer is coming... the annual company picnic, maybe the company softball team, or somebody is retiring and there is a cooler of beer or other alcoholic beverages and someone gets hurt on the way home. Are you liable?

An employer’s liability when serving alcohol is no joking matter. If the drinking can be linked to your event, your business could be held responsible for medical bills, vehicle repair costs, lost time from work and — in the worst case — claims for wrongful death.

While individual facts of cases vary, courts are recognizing and holding employers to an increasing “duty of care” when hosting social events, particularly when alcohol is involved. Court interpretations vary from state to state, but one thing is clear: employers have a “special relationship” with employees, and you can be held liable for their safety and welfare in these situations.