Don’t party too hearty!

« It’s tough to be Santa in a recession | Home | I wish you a “Silent Night” »

By Lauren | December 23, 2009

This post continues my series on keeping your business out of court. (It’s a couple of days early because, well, it just doesn’t feel right to talk about litigation risk management on Christmas Day.) Let’s talk about one of the annual pitfalls that businesses frequently fall into: mismanaging employee drinking at the company holiday party.

Too many company parties involve lots of food and even more liquor. There’s nothing wrong with letting your employees sample a little holiday cheer, but if one of those employees drives home drunk from your party and gets in an accident, your company could be held liable for serving that employee too much booze.

Some companies handle their risk by serving only soft drinks at their annual parties. Other companies limit the amount of alcohol available, but that may not eliminate the risks. Employees who are determined to party hard almost always find ways around the rules and, while you may be able to prove in court that they weren’t authorized to consume so much, it can cost a lot of time, stress and legal fees to make that point.

If you decide to serve alcohol at a company event, make sure to provide your employees with the option of a company-sponsored cab ride. Some companies also make overnight hotel accommodations available for employees who’ve had too much to drink. Both options cost a little money, but they save a lot of lives. They can also prevent post-holiday lawsuits.

Share and Enjoy: